As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2017
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016
Commission File Number 001-15106
Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.Petrobras
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Brazilian Petroleum CorporationPetrobras
(Translation of registrants name into English)
The Federative Republic of Brazil
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Avenida República do Chile, 65
20031-912Rio de JaneiroRJBrazil
(Address of principal executive offices)
Ivan de Souza Monteiro
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investor Relations Officer
(55 21) 3224-4477ivanmonteiro@petrobras.com.br
Avenida República do Chile, 6523rd Floor
20031-912Rio de JaneiroRJBrazil
(Name, telephone, e-mail and/or facsimile number and address of company contact person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class: |
Name of each exchange on which registered: | |
Petrobras Common Shares, without par value* |
New York Stock Exchange* | |
Petrobras American Depositary Shares, or ADSs (evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs), each representing two Common Shares |
New York Stock Exchange | |
Petrobras Preferred Shares, without par value* |
New York Stock Exchange* | |
Petrobras American Depositary Shares (as evidenced by American Depositary Receipts), each representing two Preferred Shares |
New York Stock Exchange | |
5.875% Global Notes due 2018, issued by PGF (successor to PifCo) |
New York Stock Exchange | |
7.875% Global Notes due 2019, issued by PGF (successor to PifCo) |
New York Stock Exchange | |
5.750% Global Notes due 2020, issued by PGF (successor to PifCo) |
New York Stock Exchange | |
5.375% Global Notes due 2021, issued by PGF (successor to PifCo) |
New York Stock Exchange | |
6.875% Global Notes due 2040, issued by PGF (successor to PifCo) |
New York Stock Exchange | |
6.750% Global Notes due 2041, issued by PGF (successor to PifCo) |
New York Stock Exchange | |
3.000% Global Notes due 2019, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
4.375% Global Notes due 2023, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
5.625% Global Notes due 2043, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
Floating Rate Global Notes due 2019, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
8.375% Global Notes due 2018, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
4.875% Global Notes due 2020, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
6.250% Global Notes due 2024, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
7.250% Global Notes due 2044, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
Floating Rate Global Notes due 2020, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
6.850% Global Notes due 2115, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
8.375% Global Notes due 2021, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
8.750% Global Notes due 2026, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
6.125% Global Notes due 2022, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange | |
7.375% Global Notes due 2027, issued by PGF |
New York Stock Exchange |
* | Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares pursuant to the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
The number of outstanding shares of each class of stock as of December 31, 2016 was:
7.442.454.142 Petrobras Common Shares, without par value
5.602.042.788 Petrobras Preferred Shares, without par value
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined by Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ☒ No ☐
If this report is an annual or transitional report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐ Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP ☐ International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ☒ Other☐
If Other has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
Page
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Item 1. |
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Item 2. |
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Item 3. |
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Item 4. |
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Item 4A. |
93 | |||||
Item 5. |
93 | |||||
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
93 | |||||
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Item 6. |
122 | |||||
122 |
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)
Page
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Item 7. |
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136 | ||||||
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Item 8. |
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Item 9. |
146 | |||||
Item 10. |
148 | |||||
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158 | ||||||
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159 | ||||||
168 | ||||||
Taxation Relating to Our ADSs and Common and Preferred Shares |
170 | |||||
178 | ||||||
185 | ||||||
Item 11. |
185 | |||||
Item 12. |
188 | |||||
188 | ||||||
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Item 13. |
189 | |||||
Item 14. |
Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds |
189 | ||||
Item 15. |
189 | |||||
189 | ||||||
Management Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting |
189 | |||||
196 | ||||||
Item 16A. |
196 | |||||
Item 16B. |
196 | |||||
Item 16C. |
197 | |||||
197 | ||||||
198 | ||||||
Item 16D. |
198 | |||||
Item 16E. |
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers |
198 | ||||
Item 16F. |
198 | |||||
Item 16G. |
200 | |||||
Item 16H. |
202 |
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)
Page
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Item 17. |
203 | |||||
Item 18. |
203 | |||||
Item 19. |
203 | |||||
213 |
iii
This annual report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act, that are not based on historical facts and are not assurances of future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this annual report, which address our expected business and financial performance, among other matters, contain words such as believe, expect, estimate, anticipate, intend, plan, aim, will, may, should, could, would, likely, potential and similar expressions.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. There is no assurance that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur.
We have made forward-looking statements that address, among other things:
| our marketing and expansion strategy; |
| our exploration and production activities, including drilling; |
| our activities related to refining, import, export, transportation of oil, natural gas and oil products, petrochemicals, power generation, biofuels and other sources of renewable energy; |
| our projected and targeted capital expenditures and other costs, commitments and revenues; |
| our liquidity and sources of funding; |
| our pricing strategy and development of additional revenue sources; and |
| the impact, including cost, of acquisitions and divestments. |
Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to assumptions that may prove incorrect and to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Our actual results could differ materially from those expressed or forecast in any forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of assumptions and factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
| our ability to obtain financing; |
| general economic and business conditions, including crude oil and other commodity prices, refining margins and prevailing exchange rates; |
| global economic conditions; |
| our ability to find, acquire or gain access to additional reserves and to develop our current reserves successfully; |
| uncertainties inherent in making estimates of our oil and gas reserves, including recently discovered oil and gas reserves; |
| competition; |
| technical difficulties in the operation of our equipment and the provision of our services; |
| changes in, or failure to comply with, laws or regulations, including with respect to fraudulent activity, corruption and bribery; |
1
| receipt of governmental approvals and licenses; |
| international and Brazilian political, economic and social developments; |
| natural disasters, accidents, military operations, acts of sabotage, wars or embargoes; |
| the cost and availability of adequate insurance coverage; |
| our ability to successfully implement assets sales under our divestment program; |
| the outcome of ongoing corruption investigations and any new facts or information that may arise in relation to the Lava Jato investigation; |
| the effectiveness of our risk management policies and procedures, including operational risk; and |
| litigation, such as class actions or enforcement or other proceedings brought by governmental and regulatory agencies. |
For additional information on factors that could cause our actual results to differ from expectations reflected in forward-looking statements, see Risk Factors in this annual report.
All forward-looking statements attributed to us or a person acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or for any other reason.
The crude oil and natural gas reserve data presented or described in this annual report are only estimates, and our actual production, revenues and expenditures with respect to our reserves may materially differ from these estimates.
2
GLOSSARY OF CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT
Unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the meanings shown below:
ADR |
American Depositary Receipt. | |
ADS |
American Depositary Share. | |
AMS |
Our health care plan (Assistência Multidisciplinar de Saúde). | |
ANP |
The Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency), or ANP, is the federal agency that regulates the oil, natural gas and renewable fuels industry in Brazil. | |
API |
Standard measure of oil density developed by the American Petroleum Institute. | |
Assignment Agreement |
An agreement under which the Brazilian federal government assigned to us the right to explore and produce oil, natural gas and other fluid hydrocarbons in specified pre-salt areas in Brazil. See Item 10. Additional InformationMaterial ContractsAssignment Agreement. Also referred to as the Transfer of Rights Agreement. | |
Bahiagás |
Companhia de Gás da Bahia, the natural gas distribution company for the State of Bahia. | |
Banco do Brasil |
Banco do Brasil S.A. | |
Bank of New York Mellon |
The Bank of New York Mellon, which serves as depositary for both our common and preferred ADSs. | |
Barrels |
Standard measure of crude oil volume. | |
BM&FBOVESPA |
The São Paulo Stock Exchange. | |
Braskem |
Braskem S.A. | |
Brent Crude Oil |
A major trading classification of light crude oil that serves as a major benchmark price for commercialization of crude oil worldwide. | |
BNDES |
The Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (the Brazilian Development Bank). | |
Câmara de Arbitragem do Mercado |
An arbitration chamber governed and maintained by the BM&FBOVESPA. | |
CCEE |
The Câmara de Comercialização de Energia Elétrica (Electric Energy Trading Chamber). | |
CDB |
The China Development Bank. | |
CEG Rio |
Gas Natural Fenosa, the natural gas distribution company for the State of Rio de Janeiro. | |
Central Depositária |
The Central Depositária de Ativos e de Registro de Operações do Mercado, which serves as the custodian of our common and preferred shares (including those represented by ADSs) on behalf of our shareholders. | |
CGDU |
The Controladoria Geral da União (General Federal Inspectors Office), or CGDU, is an advisory body of the Brazilian Presidency, responsible for assisting in matters related to the protection of federal public property (patrimônio público) and the improvement of transparency in the Brazilian executive branch, through internal control activities, public audits, and the prevention and combat of corruption, among others. |
3
CMN |
The Conselho Monetário Nacional (National Monetary Council), or CMN, is the highest authority of the Brazilian financial system, responsible for the formulation of the Brazilian currency and credit policy. | |
CNODC |
CNODC Brasil Petróleo e Gás Ltda. | |
CNOOC |
CNOOC Petroleum Brasil Ltda. | |
Condensate |
Light hydrocarbon substances produced with natural gas, which condense into liquid at normal temperature and pressure. | |
COMPERJ |
The Complexo Petroquímico do Rio de Janeiro Comperj (Petrochemical Complex of Rio de Janeiro). | |
CONAMA |
The Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (National Council for the Environment). | |
COSO |
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. | |
COSO-ERM |
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission Enterprise Risk Management Integrated Framework. | |
CNPE |
The Conselho Nacional de Política Energética (National Energy Policy Council), or CNPE, is an advisory body of the President of the Republic assisting in the formulation of energy policies and guidelines. | |
CVM |
The Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission), or CVM. | |
D&M |
DeGolyer and MacNaughton. | |
Deepwater |
Between 300 and 1,500 meters (984 and 4,921 feet) deep. | |
Distillation |
A process by which liquids are separated or refined by vaporization followed by condensation. | |
DoJ |
The U.S. Department of Justice. | |
Eletrobras |
Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras. | |
ERP |
Enterprise Resource Planning. | |
EWT |
Extended well test. | |
Exploration area |
A region in Brazil under a regulatory contract without a known hydrocarbon accumulation or with a hydrocarbon accumulation that has not yet been declared commercial. | |
Fitch |
Fitch Ratings Inc., a credit rating agency. | |
FPSO |
Floating production, storage and offloading unit. | |
Gaspetro |
Petrobras Gás S.A. | |
GSA |
Long-term Gas Supply Agreement entered into with the Bolivian state-owned company Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos. | |
GTB |
Gas Transboliviano S.A. | |
HSE |
Health, Safety and Environmental. | |
IASB |
International Accounting Standards Board. | |
IBAMA |
The Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources). | |
IBGC |
The Instituto Brasileiro de Governança Corporativa (Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance). |
4
IBGE |
The Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). | |
IOF |
Imposto sobre Operações Financeiras (Brazilian taxes over financial transactions). | |
IPCA |
The Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo (National Consumer Price Index). | |
ISO |
The International Organization for Standardization. | |
Lava Jato investigation |
See Item 3. Key InformationRisk FactorsCompliance and Control Risks and Item 8. Financial InformationLegal ProceedingsLava Jato Investigation. | |
LFTs |
Letras Financeiras do Tesouro (Brazilian federal government bonds). | |
LNG |
Liquefied natural gas. | |
LPG |
Liquefied petroleum gas, which is a mixture of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, with up to five carbon atoms, used as domestic fuel. | |
Mitsui |
Mitsui Gás e Energia do Brasil Ltda. | |
MME |
The Ministério de Minas e Energia (Ministry of Mines and Energy) of Brazil. | |
Moodys |
Moodys Investors Service, Inc., a credit rating agency. | |
MPBM |
The Ministério do Planejamento, Orçamento e Gestão (Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management) of Brazil. | |
NGLs |
Natural gas liquids, which are light hydrocarbon substances produced with natural gas, which condense into liquid at normal temperature and pressure. | |
NYSE |
The New York Stock Exchange. | |
NTS |
Nova Transportadora do Sudeste S.A. | |
OHSAS |
Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. | |
Oil |
Crude oil, including NGLs and condensates. | |
ONS |
The Operador Nacional do Sistema Elétrico (National Electric System Operator) of Brazil. | |
OPEC |
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. | |
OSRL |
The Oil Spill Response Limited. | |
PESA |
Petrobras Argentina S.A. | |
Petros |
Petrobras employee pension fund. | |
Petros 2 |
Petrobras sponsored pension plan. | |
PFC Energy |
A global energy research and consultancy group. | |
PGF |
Petrobras Global Finance B.V. | |
PifCo |
Petrobras International Finance Company S.A. | |
PLSV |
Pipe laying support vessel. | |
PO&G |
Petrobras Oil & Gas. | |
Post-salt reservoir |
A geological formation containing oil or natural gas deposits located above a salt layer. | |
PPSA |
Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. |
5
Pre-salt reservoir |
A geological formation containing oil or natural gas deposits located beneath a salt layer. | |
Proved reserves |
Consistent with the definitions in Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-X, proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations. Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price is the average price during the 12-month period prior to December 31, 2015, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or we must be reasonably certain that we will commence the project within a reasonable time.
Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (such as fluid injection) are included in the proved classification when successful testing by a pilot project, or the operation of an installed program in the reservoir, provides support for the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based. | |
Proved developed reserves |
Reserves that can be expected to be recovered: (i) through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or for which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well; and (ii) through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserve estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well. | |
Proved undeveloped reserves |
Reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required. Reserves on undrilled acreage are limited to those directly offsetting development spacing areas that are reasonably certain of production when drilled, unless evidence using reliable technology exists that establishes reasonable certainty of economic producibility at greater distances.
Undrilled locations are classified as having undeveloped reserves only if a development plan has been adopted indicating that they are scheduled to be drilled within five years, unless the specific circumstances justify a longer time. Proved undeveloped reserves do not include reserves attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proved effective by actual projects in the same reservoir or an analogous reservoir or by other evidence using reliable technology establishing reasonable certainty. | |
PTAX |
The reference exchange rate for the purchase and sale of U.S. dollars in Brazil, as published by the Brazilian Central Bank. | |
PwC |
PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes. | |
RNEST |
The Refinaria Abreu e Lima (Abreu e Lima Refinery). |
6
S&P |
Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC, a credit rating agency. | |
SDNY |
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. | |
SEC |
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission. | |
SELIC |
The Brazilian Central Bank base interest rate. | |
Sete Brasil |
Sete Brasil Participações, S.A. | |
Suape Petrochemical Complex |
The Complexo Industrial Petroquímica Suape, an industrial complex with facilities owned by Companhia Petroquímica de Pernambuco PetroquímicaSuape and Companhia Integrada Têxtil de Pernanbuco Citepe. | |
Shell |
Shell Brasil Petróleo Ltda. | |
SPE |
The Society of Petroleum Engineers. | |
SS |
Semi-submersible unit. | |
Synthetic oil and synthetic gas |
A mixture of hydrocarbons derived by upgrading (i.e., chemically altering) natural bitumen from oil sands, kerogen from oil shales, or processing of other substances such as natural gas or coal. Synthetic oil may contain sulfur or other non-hydrocarbon compounds and has many similarities to crude oil. | |
TAG |
Transportadora Associada de Gás S.A. | |
TCU |
The Tribunal de Contas da União (Federal Auditors Office), or TCU, is an advisory body of the Brazilian Congress, responsible for assisting it in matters related to the supervision of the Brazilian executive branch with respect to accounting, finance, budget, operational and public property (patrimônio público) matters. | |
TBG |
Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolívia-Brasil S.A. (TBG). | |
TLWP |
Tension Leg Wellhead Platform. | |
Total |
Total E&P do Brasil Ltda. | |
Total depth |
Total depth of a well, including vertical distance through water and below the mudline. | |
Transpetro |
Petrobras Transporte S.A. | |
Ultra-deepwater |
Over 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) deep. | |
YPFB |
Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos. |
7
|
||||||||
1 acre |
= | 43,560 square feet | = | 0.004047 km2 | ||||
1 barrel |
= | 42 U.S. gallons | = | Approximately 0.13 t of oil | ||||
1 boe |
= | 1 barrel of crude oil equivalent | = | 6,000 cf of natural gas | ||||
1 m3 of natural gas |
= | 35.315 cf | = | 0.0059 boe | ||||
1 km |
= | 0.6214 miles | ||||||
1 meter |
= | 3.2808 feet | ||||||
1 t of crude oil |
= | 1,000 kilograms of crude oil | = | Approximately 7.5 barrels of crude oil (assuming an atmospheric pressure index gravity of 37° API) |
8
ABBREVIATIONS
bbl |
Barrels | |
bcf |
Billion cubic feet | |
bn |
Billion (thousand million) | |
bnbbl |
Billion barrels | |
bncf |
Billion cubic feet | |
bnm3 |
Billion cubic meters | |
boe |
Barrels of oil equivalent | |
bnboe |
Billion barrels of oil equivalent | |
bbl/d |
Barrels per day | |
cf |
Cubic feet | |
GWh |
One gigawatt of power supplied or demanded for one hour | |
km |
Kilometer | |
km2 |
Square kilometers | |
m3 |
Cubic meter | |
mbbl |
Thousand barrels | |
mbbl/d |
Thousand barrels per day | |
mboe |
Thousand barrels of oil equivalent | |
mboe/d |
Thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day | |
mcf |
Thousand cubic feet | |
mcf/d |
Thousand cubic feet per day | |
mm3 |
Thousand cubic meters | |
mm3/d |
Thousand cubic meters per day | |
mm3/y |
Thousand cubic meter per year | |
mmbbl |
Million barrels | |
mmbbl/d |
Million barrels per day | |
mmboe |
Million barrels of oil equivalent | |
mmboe/d |
Million barrels of oil equivalent per day | |
mmcf |
Million cubic feet | |
mmcf/d |
Million cubic feet per day | |
mmm3 |
Million cubic meters | |
mmm3/d |
Million cubic meters per day | |
mmt |
Million metric tons | |
mmt/y |
Million metric tons per year | |
MW |
Megawatts | |
MWavg |
Amount of energy (in MWh) divided by the time (in hours) in which such energy is produced or consumed | |
MWh |
One megawatt of power supplied or demanded for one hour | |
ppm |
Parts per million | |
R$ |
Brazilian reais | |
t |
Metric ton | |
Tcf |
Trillion cubic feet | |
US$ |
United States dollars | |
/d |
Per day | |
/y |
Per year |
9
PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION
This is the annual report of Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.Petrobras, or Petrobras. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms Petrobras, we, us, and our refer to Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.Petrobras and its consolidated subsidiaries, joint operations and structured entities.
We currently issue notes in the international capital markets through our wholly-owned finance subsidiary Petrobras Global Finance B.V., or PGF, a private company with limited liability incorporated under the law of The Netherlands. We fully and unconditionally guarantee the notes issued by PGF. In the past, we used our former wholly-owned subsidiary, Petrobras International Finance Company S.A., or PifCo, as a vehicle to issue notes that we fully and unconditionally guaranteed. On December 29, 2014, PifCo merged into PGF, and PGF assumed PifCos obligations under all outstanding notes originally issued by PifCo (together with the notes issued by PGF, the PGF notes), which continue to benefit from our full and unconditional guarantee. PGF is not required to file periodic reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. See Note 36 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
In this annual report, references to real, reais or R$ are to Brazilian reais and references to U.S. dollars or US$ are to United States dollars. Certain figures included in this annual report have been subject to rounding adjustments; accordingly, figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an exact arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
Our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 and the accompanying notes contained in this annual report have been presented in U.S. dollars and prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects and Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements. Petrobras applies IFRS in its statutory financial statements prepared in accordance with Brazilian Corporate Law and regulations promulgated by the CVM.
Our IFRS financial statements filed with the CVM are presented in reais, while the presentation currency of the audited consolidated financial statements included herein is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of Petrobras and all of its Brazilian subsidiaries is the real. The functional currency of most of our other entities that operate internationally, such as PGF, is the U.S. dollar. As described more fully in Note 2.2 to our audited consolidated financial statements, the U.S. dollar amounts for the periods presented have been translated from the real amounts in accordance with the criteria set forth in IAS 21 The effects of changes in foreign exchange rates. Based on IAS 21, we have translated all assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate as of the date of the balance sheet, all accounts in the statement of income and statement of cash flows at the average rates prevailing during the corresponding year and all equity items at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. All exchange differences arising from the translation are recognized as cumulative translation adjustments (CTA) within consolidated shareholders equity.
Unless the context otherwise indicates:
| data contained in this annual report regarding capital expenditures, investments and other expenditures during the corresponding year that were not derived from the audited consolidated financial statements have been translated from reais at the average rates prevailing during such corresponding year; |
| historical data contained in this annual report regarding balances of investments, commitments or other related expenditures that were not derived from the audited consolidated financial statements have been translated from reais at the period-end exchange rate; and |
10
| forward-looking amounts, including estimated future capital expenditures and investments, have all been based on our 2017-2021 Business and Management Plan, as originally approved in September 2016 (2017-2021 Plan), and have been projected on a constant basis. Future calculations involving an assumed price of crude oil have been calculated using an average Brent crude oil price of US$48 per barrel for 2017. In addition, in accordance with our 2017-2021 Plan, we have used an estimated average nominal exchange rate of R$3.55 to US$1.00 for 2017. For further information on our 2017-2021 Plan, see Item 4. Information on the Company2017-2021 Plan. |
PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING RESERVES
We apply the SEC rules for estimating and disclosing oil and natural gas reserve quantities included in this annual report. In accordance with those rules, we estimate reserve volumes using the average prices calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period, except for reserves in certain fields for which volumes have been estimated using gas prices as set forth in our contractual arrangements for the sale of gas. Reserve volumes of non-traditional reserves, such as synthetic oil and gas, are also included in this annual report in accordance with SEC rules. In addition, the rules also utilize a reliable technology definition that permits reserves to be added based on field-tested technologies.
DeGolyer and MacNaughton (D&M) used our reserve estimates to conduct a reserves audit of 97% of our net proved crude oil, condensate and natural gas reserves as of December 31, 2016 in certain properties we own in Brazil. In addition, D&M used our reserve estimates to conduct a reserves audit of 100% of the net proved crude oil, condensate and natural gas reserves as of December 31, 2016 in properties we operate in the United States. The reserve estimates were prepared in accordance with the reserves definitions in Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-X. All reserve estimates involve some degree of uncertainty. See Item 3. Key InformationRisk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Operations for a description of the risks relating to our reserves and our reserve estimates.
On January 31, 2017, we filed proved reserve estimates for Brazil with the ANP, in accordance with Brazilian rules and regulations, totaling net volumes of 10.4 bnbbl of crude oil, condensate and synthetic oil and 11.6 tcf of natural gas and synthetic gas. The reserve estimates filed with the ANP were approximately 29.8% higher than those provided herein in terms of oil equivalent. This difference is due to: (i) the fact that the ANP permits the estimation of proved reserves through the technical-economical abandonment of production wells, as opposed to limiting reserve estimates to the life of the concession contracts as required by Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X; and (ii) different technical criteria for booking proved reserves, including the use of future oil prices projected by Petrobras as opposed to the SEC requirement that the 12-month average price be used to determine the economic producibility of the reserves.
We also file reserve estimates from our international operations with various governmental agencies under the guidelines of the SPE. The aggregate reserve estimates from our international operations, under SPE guidelines, amounted to 0.2 bnbbl of crude oil, condensate and NGL and 0.2 tcf of natural gas as of December 31, 2016, which is approximately 8.5% higher than the reserve estimates calculated under Regulation S-X, as provided herein. This difference is due to different technical criteria for booking proved reserves, including the use of future oil prices projected by Petrobras as opposed to the SEC requirement that the 12-month average price be used to determine the economic producibility of the reserves.
11
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
This section contains selected consolidated financial data presented in U.S. dollars and prepared in accordance with IFRS as of and for each of the five years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012, derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes (PwC).
The information below should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes and Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.
12
BALANCE SHEET DATA
IFRS Summary Financial Data
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||
(US$ million) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
21,205 | 25,058 | 16,655 | 15,868 | 13,520 | |||||||||||||||
Marketable securities |
784 | 780 | 9,323 | 3,885 | 10,431 | |||||||||||||||
Trade and other receivables, net |
4,769 | 5,554 | 7,969 | 9,670 | 11,099 | |||||||||||||||
Inventories |
8,475 | 7,441 | 11,466 | 14,225 | 14,552 | |||||||||||||||
Assets classified as held for sale |
5,728 | 152 | 5 | 2,407 | 143 | |||||||||||||||
Other current assets |
3,808 | 4,194 | 5,414 | 6,600 | 8,049 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term receivables |
20,420 | 19,426 | 18,863 | 18,782 | 18,856 | |||||||||||||||
Investments |
3,052 | 3,527 | 5,753 | 6,666 | 6,106 | |||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
175,470 | 161,297 | 218,730 | 227,901 | 204,901 | |||||||||||||||
Intangible assets |
3,272 | 3,092 | 4,509 | 15,419 | 39,739 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total assets |
246,983 | 230,521 | 298,687 | 321,423 | 327,396 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Liabilities and shareholders equity: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
24,903 | 28,573 | 31,118 | 35,226 | 34,070 | |||||||||||||||
Non-current liabilities(1) |
36,159 | 24,411 | 30,373 | 30,839 | 42,976 | |||||||||||||||
Non-current finance debt(2) |
108,371 | 111,482 | 120,218 | 106,235 | 88,484 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total liabilities |
169,433 | 164,466 | 181,709 | 172,300 | 165,530 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Shareholders equity |
||||||||||||||||||||
Share capital (net of share issuance costs) |
107,101 | 107,101 | 107,101 | 107,092 | 107,083 | |||||||||||||||
Reserves and other comprehensive income (deficit)(3) |
(30,322 | ) | (41,865 | ) | 9,171 | 41,435 | 53,631 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Shareholders equity attributable to the shareholders of Petrobras |
76,779 | 65,236 | 116,272 | 148,527 | 160,714 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Non-controlling interests |
771 | 819 | 706 | 596 | 1,152 | |||||||||||||||
Total shareholders equity |
77,550 | 66,055 | 116,978 | 149,123 | 161,866 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
246,983 | 230,521 | 298,687 | 321,423 | 327,396 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | Excludes non-current finance debt. |
(2) | Excludes current portion of long-term finance debt. |
(3) | Capital transactions, profit reserve and accumulated other comprehensive income (deficit). |
13
INCOME STATEMENT DATA
IFRS Summary Financial Data
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2016(1) | 2015(1) | 2014(1) | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||
(US$ million, except for share and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sales revenues |
81,405 | 97,314 | 143,657 | 141,462 | 144,103 | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) before finance income (expense), share of earnings in equity-accounted investments, profit sharing and income taxes |
4,308 | (1,130 | ) | (7,407 | ) | 16,214 | 16,900 | |||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of Petrobras |
(4,838 | ) | (8,450 | ) | (7,367 | ) | 11,094 | 11,034 | ||||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares outstanding: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Common |
7,442,454,142 | 7,442,454,142 | 7,442,454,142 | 7,442,454,142 | 7,442,454,142 | |||||||||||||||
Preferred |
5,602,042,788 | 5,602,042,788 | 5,602,042,788 | 5,602,042,788 | 5,602,042,788 | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) before financial results, profit sharing and income taxes per: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Common and Preferred shares |
0.33 | (0.09 | ) | (0.57 | ) | 1.24 | 1.30 | |||||||||||||
Common and Preferred ADS |
0.66 | (0.18 | ) | (1.14 | ) | 2.48 | 2.60 | |||||||||||||
Basic and diluted earnings (losses) per: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Common and Preferred shares |
(0.37 | ) | (0.65 | ) | (0.56 | ) | 0.85 | 0.85 | ||||||||||||
Common and Preferred ADS |
(0.74 | ) | (1.30 | ) | (1.12 | ) | 1.70 | 1.70 | ||||||||||||
Cash dividends per(2): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Common shares |
| | | 0.22 | 0.24 | |||||||||||||||
Preferred shares |
| | | 0.41 | 0.48 | |||||||||||||||
Common ADS |
| | | 0.44 | 0.48 | |||||||||||||||
Preferred ADS |
| | | 0.82 | 0.96 |
(1) | In 2014, we wrote-off US$2,527 million of incorrectly capitalized overpayments. In 2016, 2015 and 2014, we recognized impairment losses of US$6,139, US$12,299 and US$16,823, respectively. See Notes 3 and 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further information. |
(2) | Pre-tax interest on capital and/or dividends proposed for the year. Amounts were translated from the original amounts in reais considering the balance sheet date exchange rate. |
14
BRAZILIAN REAIS EXCHANGE RATES
Daily Observed Exchange Rate | ||||||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, |
High | Low | Average(1) | Period-End | ||||||||||||
(R$ per US$) | ||||||||||||||||
2012 |
2.1121 | 1.7024 | 1.9546 | 2.0435 | ||||||||||||
2013 |
2.4457 | 1.9528 | 2.1576 | 2.3426 | ||||||||||||
2014 |
2.7403 | 2.1974 | 2.3536 | 2.6562 | ||||||||||||
2015 |
4.1949 | 2.5754 | 3.3315 | 3.9048 | ||||||||||||
2016 |
4.1558 | 3.1193 | 3.4901 | 3.2591 | ||||||||||||
October |
3.2359 | 3.1193 | 3.1858 | 3.1811 | ||||||||||||
November |
3.4446 | 3.2024 | 3.3420 | 3.3967 | ||||||||||||
December |
3.4650 | 3.2591 | 3.3523 | 3.2591 | ||||||||||||
2017 |
3.2729 | 3.0510 | 3.1429 | | ||||||||||||
January |
3.2729 | 3.1270 | 3.1966 | 3.1270 | ||||||||||||
February |
3.1479 | 3.0510 | 3.1042 | 3.0993 | ||||||||||||
March |
3.1735 | 3.0765 | 3.1279 | 3.1684 |
Source: Central | Bank of Brazil |
(1) | For each year, the average daily exchange rates for the relevant year. For each month, the average daily exchange rate for the relevant month. |
15
Risks Relating to Our Operations
We are exposed to risks of health, environment and safety in our operations, which may lead to accidents, significant losses, administrative proceedings and legal liabilities.
Some of our main activities, operated by us or our partners, present risks capable of leading to accidents, such as oil spills, product leaks, fires and explosions. In particular, deepwater and ultra-deepwater activities present various risks, such as oil spills and explosions in drilling or production units. These events may occur due to technical failures, human errors or natural events, among other factors. The occurrence of one of these events, or other related incidents, may result in various damages such as death, serious environmental damage and related expenses (including, for example, cleaning and repairing expenses), may have an impact on the health of our workforce or on communities, and may cause environmental or property damage, loss of production, financial losses and, in certain circumstances, judicial liability in civil, labor, criminal and administrative lawsuits. As a consequence, we may incur expenses to repair or remediate damages caused. Further, we may face difficulties in obtaining or maintaining operating licenses and may suffer damages to our reputation.
Our insurance policies do not cover all types of risks and liabilities associated with our activities. There can be no guarantee that incidents will not occur in the future, that there will be insurance to cover the damages or that we will not be held responsible for these events, all of which may negatively impact our results. See Item 4. Information on the CompanyHealth, Safety and Environmental Initiatives and Insurance, as well as Note 33.7 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further information.
We rely on key third-party suppliers and service providers to provide us with parts, components, services and critical resources that we need to operate our business and complete our major projects, which could be adversely affected by any failure or delay by such third parties in performing their obligations or any deterioration in the financial condition of such third parties.
Our ability to maintain our long-term objectives for oil production depends upon successful delivery of major exploration and production projects. Failure to successfully deliver such major projects, or delays in doing so, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We rely upon various key third-party suppliers, vendors and service providers to provide us with parts, components, services and critical resources, which we need to operate and expand our business. We are susceptible to the risks of performance, product quality and financial condition of our key suppliers, vendors and service providers. If these key suppliers, vendors and service providers critically fail to deliver, or are delayed in delivering, equipment, service or critical resources to our major projects, we may not meet our operating targets in the time frame we expected. We may ultimately need to delay or suspend one or more of our major projects, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
In connection with the Lava Jato investigation, we temporarily suspended the ability of a number of companies to participate as suppliers and contractors in future bids for new contracts and services with us, a number of whom have historically acted as key suppliers, vendors and service providers for our major projects. There can be no assurance that all of these companies will be permitted to participate in our future projects or that we will be able to replace such key suppliers, vendors and service providers with others that would be able to meet our needs, and we are also susceptible to the risk that future circumstances will require us to impose further suspensions, which could affect the successful and timely delivery of our future projects, and consequently our results of operations and financial condition. See Note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further information about the Lava Jato investigation.
16
We are also subject to Brazilian local content requirements arising out of our concession agreements, the Assignment Agreement and the Libra Production Sharing Agreement. For further information on local content requirement, see Item 10. Additional InformationMaterial ContractsBrazilian Content. This mandatory acquisition of equipment and services from a limited number of suppliers may result in (i) higher acquisition costs and (ii) delays in the delivery of equipment. Additionally, these requirements, along with the temporary suspension of many of our local suppliers described above, due to the Lava Jato investigations, could cause delays in some of our major projects if we are unable to timely replace Brazilian suppliers or service providers that fail to perform their obligations under our contracts. Unless ANP exempts us from complying with local content requirements, as to which there is no assurance, we could also face delays and fines in the execution of our current major exploration and production projects.
In addition, there are risks relating to our ability to contract efficiently enough to meet our needs, in light of the significant change promulgated by a recently issued law (Law No. 13,303/2016). The new law contains new guidelines, rules and procedures for bidding, which will have broad and systemic impacts. We have until June 30, 2018 to comply with the new legislation, with respect to bids and contracts, as well as governance.
We are not insured against business interruption for our Brazilian operations, and most of our assets are not insured against war or sabotage.
We generally do not maintain insurance coverage for business interruptions of any nature for our Brazilian operations, including business interruptions caused by labor disputes. If, for instance, our workers or those of our key third-party suppliers, vendors and service providers were to strike, the resulting work stoppages could have an adverse effect on us. In addition, we do not insure most of our assets against war or sabotage. See Risks Relating to Our OperationsStrikes, work stoppages or labor unrest by our employees or by the employees of our suppliers or contractors could adversely affect our results of operations and our business, Item 4. Information of the CompanyInsurance and Note 33.7 to our audited consolidated financial statements. Therefore, an attack or an operational incident causing an interruption of our business could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Strikes, work stoppages or labor unrest by our employees or by the employees of our suppliers or contractors, as well as potential shortages of skilled personnel, could adversely affect our results of operations and our business.
Approximately 45% of our employees are represented by labor unions. Disagreements on issues involving divestments or changes in our business strategy, reductions in our personnel, as well as potential employee contributions to a Petros shortfall, could lead to labor unrest. Strikes, work stoppages or other forms of labor unrest at any of our major suppliers, contractors or their facilities could impair our ability to complete major projects and impact our ability to achieve our long-term objectives.
In addition, we could experience potential shortages of skilled personnel. We recently announced a new voluntary separation incentive program open to all of our employees. For further information on this program, see Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and EmployeesEmployees and Labor RelationsVoluntary Separation Incentive ProgramPIDV. If the voluntary separation incentive program is successfully implemented, and we are unable to timely replace the key skilled personnel that decide to enroll in such program, there could be an adverse effect on our results of operations and our business. Our success also depends on our ability to continue to successfully train and qualify our personnel so they can assume qualified senior positions in the future. We cannot assure you that we will be able to properly train, qualify or retain senior management personnel, or do so without costs or delays, nor can we assure you that we will be able to find new qualified senior managers, should the need arise. Any such failure could adversely affect our results of operations and our business.
17
The mobilization and demobilization of our employees as a result of our partnership and divestment program may adversely affect the results of our business and operations.
Our 2017-2021 Plan includes, among other initiatives, a divestment program that contemplates partnerships and the sale of approximately US$21 billion in assets during the period 2017-2018, with the goal of improving our short-term liquidity position and allowing us to deleverage. For further information on our divestments, see Item 4. Information on the Company Overview of the Group. Many of the assets that we have sold, or expect to sell, utilize our employees, that could be relocated to other areas and projects and we may have to train these employees to perform other tasks. Potential difficulties could arise from the need to relocate portions of our employees related to these assets and may generate additional costs, judicial inquiries related to labor lawsuits, strikes and may negatively impact our reputation.
Failures in our information technology systems, information security (cybersecurity) systems and telecommunications systems and services can adversely impact our operations and reputation.
Our operations are heavily dependent on information technology and telecommunication systems and services. Interruptions in these systems, caused by obsolescence, technical failures or intentional acts, can disrupt or even paralyze our business and adversely impact our operations and reputation. In addition, security failures related to sensitive information due to intentional or unintentional actions, such as cyberterrorism, or internal actions, including negligence or misconduct of our employees, may have a negative impact on our reputation, our relationship with external entities (government, regulators, partners and suppliers, among others), our strategic positioning with relation to our competitors, and our results, due to the leakage of information or unauthorized use of such information.
Financial Risks
We have substantial liabilities and may be exposed to significant liquidity constraints in the near and medium term, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We have incurred a substantial amount of debt in order to finance the capital expenditures needed to meet our long-term objectives, 65% of which (principal), or US$75 billion, will mature in the next five years. For more information about our debt, see Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsLiquidity and Capital Resources. Since our operating cash flow may be insufficient to finance both our planned investments and the principal and interest obligations under the terms of our debt, any difficulty in raising significant amounts of debt capital in the future may impact our results of operations and the ability to fulfill our business plan.
We lost our Moodys, S&P and Fitch investment grade ratings for all of our credit ratings between 2015 and 2016. In May 2016, Fitch revised our corporate debt rating from BB+ to BB, with negative outlook. This review followed the change in the sovereign rating of Brazil, announced on May 5, 2016. In October 2016, Moodys upgraded our rating from B3 to B2, and changed the outlook from negative to stable. In April 2017, Moodys upgraded our rating again from B2 to B1 and changed the outlook from stable to positive.
However, our Moodys, S&P and Fitch ratings have fluctuated substantially over the past two years, as a result of concerns expressed by the rating agencies regarding (i) liquidity pressures and our capacity to meet our principal and interest payment obligations maturing in the short- and medium-term, (ii) the total size of our debt, (iii) the increase in our indebtedness and leverage over the last few years, (iv) the significant decline in international crude oil prices, (v) the sharp devaluation of the real and (vi) the challenges involved in successfully implementing our divestment program. The loss of our investment grade credit rating and any further lowering of our credit ratings has had, and may continue to have, adverse consequences on our ability to obtain financing, due to a less liquid market for our debt and equity securities, or may impact our cost of financing, also making it more difficult or costly to refinance maturing obligations. The impact on our ability to obtain financing and the cost of financing may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
18
In addition, despite the fact that the Brazilian federal government (as our controlling shareholder) is not responsible or liable for any of our liabilities, any further lowering of the Brazilian federal governments credit ratings may have additional adverse consequences on our ability to obtain financing or the cost of our financing, and consequently, on our results of operations and financial condition.
We are vulnerable to increased debt service resulting from depreciation of the real in relation to the U.S. dollar and increases in prevailing market interest rates.
As of December 31, 2016, approximately 79.5% of our financial debt was denominated in currencies other than the real (71.9% was denominated in U.S. dollars). A substantial portion of our indebtedness is, and is expected to continue to be, denominated in or indexed to the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies. A further depreciation of the real against these other currencies will increase our debt service in reais, as the amount of reais necessary to pay principal and interest on foreign currency debt will increase with this depreciation. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsInflation and Exchange Rate VariationExchange Rate Variation for further information.
Foreign exchange variations may have an immediate impact on our reported income, except for a portion of our obligations denominated in U.S. dollars that are designated as hedging instruments in cash flow hedging relationships. According to our cash flow hedge accounting policy, hedging relationships are designated for the existing natural hedge between our U.S. dollar denominated future exports that are considered to be highly probable (hedged item) and U.S. dollar denominated financial debt (hedging instruments). See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsCritical Accounting Policies and Estimates for further information.
Following a devaluation of the real, some of our operating expenses, capital expenditures, investments and import costs will increase. As most of our revenues are denominated in reais, unless we increase the prices of our products to reflect the depreciation of the real, our cash generation relative to our capacity to service debt may decline.
Additionally, we have a substantial amount of debt maturing during the next five years, a portion of which may be refinanced by issuing new debt. To the extent we refinance our maturing obligations with newly contracted debt, we may incur additional interest expense.
As of December 31, 2016, approximately 54.2% of our total indebtedness consisted of floating rate debt. We generally do not enter into derivative contracts or similar financial instruments or make other arrangements with third parties to hedge against the risk of an increase in interest rates. To the extent that such floating rates rise, we may incur additional expenses. Additionally, as we refinance our existing debt in the coming years, the mix of our indebtedness may change, specifically as it relates to the ratio of fixed to floating interest rates, the ratio of short-term to long-term debt, and the currencies in which our debt is denominated or to which it is indexed. Changes that affect the composition of our debt and cause rises in short- or long-term interest rates may increase our debt service payments, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our commitment to meet the obligations of our pension plan (Petros) and health care benefits (AMS) may be higher than what is currently anticipated, and we may be required to make additional contributions of resources to Petros.
The criteria used for determining commitments relating to pension and health care plan benefits are based on actuarial and financial estimates and assumptions with respect to (i) the calculation of projected short-term and long-term cash flows and (ii) the application of internal and external regulatory rules. Therefore, there are uncertainties inherent in the use of estimates that may result in differences between the predicted value and the actual realized value. For further information on Petros and AMS, see Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and EmployeesEmployees and Labor RelationsPension and Health Care Plan and Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsCritical Accounting Policies and EstimatesPension and other post-retirement benefits.
In addition, the financial assets held by Petros to cover pension obligations are subject to risks inherent to investment management and such assets may not generate the necessary returns to cover the relevant liabilities, in which case extraordinary contributions from us, as sponsor, and our employees, may be required.
19
These risks may result in an increase in our liabilities and adversely affect our results of operations and our business. See Note 22 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further information about our employee benefits, including pension and health care plans.
We are exposed to the credit risks of certain of our customers and associated risks of default. Any material nonpayment or nonperformance by some of our customers could adversely affect our cash flow, results of operations and financial condition.
Some of our customers may experience financial constraints or liquidity issues that could have a significant negative effect on their creditworthiness. Severe financial issues encountered by our customers could limit our ability to collect amounts owed to us, or to enforce the performance of obligations owed to us under contractual arrangements.
For example, as of December 31, 2016, certain subsidiaries of Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras owed us approximately US$4.9 million under energy supply agreements. In 2016 and 2015, we recognized an allowance for impairment of trade receivables from the isolated electricity sector in the Northern region of Brazil amounting to approximately US$0.3 billion and US$0.8 billion, respectively, mostly to cover certain trade receivables due by Eletrobrass subsidiaries. For further information on our trade receivable in the electricity sector, see Note 8.4 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
In addition, many of our customers finance their activities through their cash flows from operations, the incurrence of short- and long-term debt. Declining financial results and economic conditions in Brazil, and resulting decreased cash flows, combined with a lack of debt or equity financing for our customers may affect us, since many of our customers are Brazilian, and may have significantly reduced liquidity and limited ability to make payments or perform their obligations to us. This could result in a decrease in our cash flows from operations and may also reduce or curtail our customers future demand for our products and services, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We may have difficulty fulfilling cash call requests by our partners in projects where we are not the operators.
We enter into partnerships in the course of our business in all of our segments, particularly in the upstream segment. In some of these partnerships, we are not the operator, and therefore, we have limited control over certain business decisions, including those related to cash calls. In the future, we could be asked to provide resources in connection with unplanned cash calls. These cash calls can negatively impact our short-term financial planning and may result in the increase of our capital costs in order to allocate additional financial resources to pay for these cash applications.
Compliance, Legal and Regulatory Risks
We are exposed to behaviors incompatible with our ethics and compliance standards, and failure to timely detect or remedy any such behavior has had, and may have, a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
In the past, some of our contractors have engaged in fraudulent activities, incompatible with our ethics and compliance standards. Although we have adopted measures to identify, monitor and remediate such actions, we are subject to the risk that our employees, contractors or any person doing business with us may engage in fraudulent activity, corruption or bribery, circumvent or override our internal controls and procedures or misappropriate or manipulate our assets for their personal or business advantage to our detriment. This risk is heightened by the fact that we have a large number of complex, valuable contracts with local and foreign suppliers, as well as the geographic distribution of our operations and the wide variety of counterparties involved in our business. We have in place a number of systems for identifying, monitoring and mitigating these risks, but our systems may not be effective.
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Our business, including relationships with third parties, is guided by ethical principles. We have adopted a Code of Ethics, a Conduct Guide and a number of internal policies designed to guide our management, employees and contractors and reinforce our principles and rules for ethical behavior and professional conduct. For further information on our Code of Ethics, see Item 16B. Code of Ethics. We offer an external whistleblower channel overseen by our General Ombudsman Office for employees, contractors and other third parties. See Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and EmployeesOmbudsman.
It is difficult for us to ensure that all of our employees and contractors, totaling over 186,000, will comply with our ethical principles. Any failure real or perceived to follow these principles or to comply with applicable governance or regulatory obligations could harm our reputation, limit our ability to obtain financing and otherwise have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our management has identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, and has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective at December 31, 2016, which may have a material adverse result on our results of operation and financial condition.
Our management identified a number of material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting in 2016. For further information on the material weaknesses identified by our management, see Item 15. Controls and ProceduresManagement Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. As a result, due to the identified material weaknesses, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective at December 31, 2016. A number of our current material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting were identified and reported by management at December 31, 2014 and 2015. Although we have developed and implemented several measures to remedy these material weaknesses, we cannot be certain that there will be no other material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting in the future.
If our efforts to remediate the material weaknesses are not successful, we may be unable to report our results of operations for future periods accurately and in a timely manner and make our required filings with government authorities, including the SEC. There is also a risk that there could be accounting errors in our financial reporting, and we cannot be certain that in the future additional material weaknesses will not exist or otherwise be discovered. Any of these occurrences could adversely affect our business and operating results and could generate negative market reactions, potentially leading to a decline in the price of our shares, ADSs and debt securities.
Ongoing SEC and DoJ investigations regarding the possibility of non-compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could adversely affect us. Violations of this or other laws may require us to pay fines and expose us and our employees to criminal sanctions and civil suits.
In November 2014, we received a subpoena from the SEC requesting certain documents and information about us relating to, among other things, the Lava Jato investigation and any allegations regarding a violation of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The DoJ is conducting a similar inquiry, and we are voluntarily cooperating with both investigations. The internal investigation and related government inquiries concerning these matters remain ongoing, and it is still not possible to estimate the duration, scope or results of the internal investigation or related inquiries by relevant authorities. While we are cooperating fully with both investigations, adverse developments in connection with these investigations, including any expansion of the scope of the investigations, could negatively impact us and could divert the efforts and attention of our management team from our ordinary business operations. In connection with any SEC or DoJ investigation or any other investigation carried out by any other authority, there can be no assurance that we will not be required to pay penalties or provide other financial relief, or consent to injunctions or orders on future conduct or suffer other penalties, any of which could have a material adverse effect on us. It is also possible that further information damaging to us and our interests will come to light in the course of the ongoing investigations of corruption by Brazilian authorities. See Item 8. Financial InformationLegal Proceedings.
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Our methodology to estimate the overpayments incorrectly capitalized, uncovered in the context of the Lava Jato investigation, involves some degree of uncertainty. If substantive additional information comes to light in the future that would make our estimate for the overstatements of our assets appear, in retrospect, to have been materially underestimated or overestimated, this could require a restatement of our financial statements and may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and affect the market value of our securities.
As a result of the findings of the Lava Jato investigation, in the third quarter of 2014, we wrote off US$2,527 million of capitalized costs representing amounts that Petrobras overpaid for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment in prior years.
Beginning in 2014, and over the course of 2015, the Brazilian Federal Prosecutors Office focused part of its investigation on irregularities involving our contractors and suppliers and uncovered a broad payment scheme that involved a wide range of participants, including former Petrobras personnel. See Note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements and Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsCritical Accounting Policies and EstimatesEstimation Methodology for Determining Write-Off for Overpayments Incorrectly Capitalized for further information about the Lava Jato investigation, the overpayments charged by certain contractors and suppliers to Petrobras and our methodology to estimate the overstatement of our assets.
We concluded that a portion of our costs incurred to build property, plant and equipment that resulted from contractors and suppliers in the cartel overcharging us to make improper payments should not have been capitalized in our historical costs of property, plant and equipment. As it is impracticable to identify the specific periods and amounts for the overpayments made by us, we considered all the available information to determine the impact of the overpayments charged to us. As a result, to account for these overpayments, we developed a methodology to estimate the aggregate amount that we overpaid under the payment scheme, in order to determine the amount of the write-off representing the overstatement of our assets resulting from overpayments used to fund improper payments.
The Lava Jato investigation is still ongoing and it could be a significant amount of time before the Brazilian federal prosecutors conclude their investigation. As a result of this investigation, substantive additional information might come to light in the future that would make our estimate for overpayments appear, in retrospect, to have been materially low or high, which may require us to restate our financial statements to further adjust the write-offs representing the overstatement of our assets recognized in our interim consolidated financial statements for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014.
We believe that we have used the most appropriate methodology and assumptions to determine the amounts of overpayments incorrectly capitalized based on the information available to us, but our estimation methodology involves some degree of uncertainty. There can be no assurance that the write-offs representing the overstatement of our assets, determined using our estimation methodology, and recognized in our interim consolidated financial statements for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, are not underestimated or overestimated. In the event that we are required to write-off additional historical costs from our property, plant and equipment or to reverse write-offs previously recognized in our financial statements, this might impact the total value of our assets and we may be subject to negative publicity, credit rating downgrades, or other negative material events, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and affect the market value of our securities. For more information, see Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsCritical Accounting Policies and EstimatesWrite-off for overpayments incorrectly capitalized and note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
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We may incur losses and spend time and financial resources defending pending litigations and arbitrations.
We are currently party to numerous legal proceedings relating to civil, administrative, tax, labor, environmental and corporate claims filed against us. These claims involve substantial amounts of money and other remedies. Several individual disputes account for a significant part of the total amount of claims against us. See Item 8. Financial InformationLegal Proceedings and Note 30 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report for a description of the legal proceedings to which we are subject.
In the event that claims involving a material amount and for which we have no provisions were to be decided against us, or in the event that the losses estimated turn out to be significantly higher than the provisions made, the aggregate cost of unfavorable decisions could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. We may also be subject to litigation and administrative proceedings in connection with our concessions and other government authorizations, which could result in the revocation of such concessions and government authorizations. In addition, our management may be required to direct its time and attention to defending these claims, which could prevent them from focusing on our core business. Depending on the outcome, litigation could result in restrictions on our operations and have a material adverse effect on some of our businesses.
We may face additional civil proceedings related to the Lava Jato investigation.
We are subject to a number of civil proceedings relating to the Lava Jato investigation, including a putative securities class action lawsuit against us consolidated in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) on February 17, 2015 and numerous individual actions. See Item 8. Financial InformationLegal Proceedings and Note 30.4 to our audited consolidated financial statements for a description of the U.S. securities class action litigation and other civil proceedings. As detailed in Item 8. Financial InformationLegal Proceedings and Note 30.4 to our audited consolidated financial statements, our Board of Directors has approved agreements to settle several of the individual actions, and we provisioned US$ 372 million in 2016 to reflect the settlements reached and the status of certain other individual actions. Because these actions involve highly complex issues that are subject to substantial uncertainties and depend on a number of factors, the possible loss or range of losses, if any, arising from the class action lawsuit or remaining individual actions cannot be estimated and consequently we have made no provisions with respect to these litigations. In the event that these litigations are decided against us, or we enter into an agreement to settle such matters, we may be required to pay substantial amounts. Depending on the outcome, such litigations could also result in restrictions on our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business. We have engaged a U.S. firm as legal counsel and intend to defend vigorously against the allegations made in the context of these actions. In addition, EIG Management Company filed a complaint against us on February 23, 2016 in connection with their investment in Sete Brasil Participações, S.A., or Sete Brasil. It is possible that additional complaints or claims might be filed in the United States, Brazil or elsewhere against us relating to the Lava Jato investigation in the future. It is also possible that further information damaging to us and our interests will come to light in the course of the ongoing investigations of corruption by Brazilian authorities. Our management may be required to direct its time and attention to defending these claims, which could prevent them from focusing on our core business.
Additional information regarding the Lava Jato or other investigations may be damaging to us and our interests, and may generate instability in the political environment.
On April 11, 2017, the Brazilian Supreme Court made public the content of part of the plea bargain statements by executives of Odebrecht, a construction company involved in the Lava Jato investigation. These statements allege the involvement of several politicians, political parties and some of our former executives in activities that comprise part of the Lava Jato investigation.
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The unfolding of investigations related to Odebrecht and the emergence of new plea bargain statements or testimony by other individuals or companies related to the Lava Jato or other investigations, may lead to the discovery, and potential confirmation, of information that would be damaging to us and our interests, and may generate instability in the political environment. For further information, see Item 8. Financial Information Legal Proceedings Lava Jato Investigation.
We may have to restate our financial statements as a result of the CVMs analysis of our hedge accounting practices.
In accordance with our risk management policy for foreign exchange risks, which states that we shall benefit from the diversification of our businesses to seek natural hedges (offsetting positions), we have been applying cash flow hedge accounting since May 2013, to account for the existing natural hedge between our U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt obligations (hedging instrument) and our highly probable U.S. dollar-denominated future export revenues (hedged item). In this case, the nature of the hedged risk is the foreign currency real vs. U.S. dollar spot rate.
The adoption of hedge accounting is optional, and in applying it we have complied with the requirements of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement and the requirements of the corresponding Brazilian accounting standard, CPC 38. According to these requirements, foreign exchange gains and losses associated with the hedging instrument (debt obligations) are recorded as gains or losses under other comprehensive income in shareholders equity. Such gains and losses are recycled to our statement of income when the corresponding export revenue is recognized.
If future exports, for which a hedging relationship has been designated, are no longer highly probable but are still expected to occur, we revoke the designation, and the unrealized cumulative foreign exchange gains or losses remain recognized under other comprehensive income and are recycled to our statement of income when the corresponding export revenue is recognized. If future exports, for which a hedging relationship has been designated, are no longer expected to occur, any related gains or losses are immediately recycled from shareholders equity to our statement of income.
In July 2013, the Department of Public Company Supervision (SEP), a technical office of the CVM, commenced an analysis in connection with our hedge accounting practices. As a result of this analysis, on March 3, 2017, SEP issued an official communication that required us to restate our financial statements for all periods since we began to apply our cash flow hedge accounting practices. We appealed to the Board of Commissioners of the CVM against the decision, and the effects of the SEPs order are currently suspended.
Depending on the outcome of our appeal, we may be required to restate our financial statements for the periods indicated, and cease or modify our cash flow hedge accounting practices going forward. The estimated impacts for the fiscal years 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 if we are required to restate our financial statements are set out in Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsCritical Accounting Policies and EstimatesCash Flow Hedge Accounting Involving our Future Exports. If we only cease our cash flow hedge accounting practice prospectively, the cumulative foreign exchange rate variation gains or losses in our shareholders equity will be recycled to our statement of income in future periods, pursuant to the schedule set out in note 33.2 to our audited consolidated financial statements. In addition, in case we cease our cash flow hedge accounting practice, the effect of prospective exchange rate changes on our U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt obligations would be immediately recognized as finance income or expense in our consolidated statement of income, instead of being recognized in our shareholders equity and recycled to profit or loss when the future export revenues occur.
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For more information on our hedge accounting practices and their effect on our financial statements, see Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsCritical Accounting Policies and EstimatesCash Flow Hedge Accounting Involving our Future Exports and notes 4.3.6, 5.8 and 33.2 and the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income to our audited consolidated financial statements.
In addition, if we are required to restate our financial statements, the net loss in 2016 would reverse to net income and, as a consequence, we may be required to distribute mandatory dividends in accordance with our bylaws and subject to approval by our shareholders at a shareholders meeting, which could materially and adversely affect our financial position and cash flow. For more information about this impact, see Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsCritical Accounting Policies and Estimates. For more information about the dividend distribution requirements applicable to us, see Item 10. Additional Information Mandatory Distribution. Any restatement of our financial statements and changes to our cash flow hedge accounting practices in future periods may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and may affect the market value of our securities.
Differences in interpretations and new regulatory requirements by the agencies in our industry may result in our need for increased investments, expenses and operating costs, or may cause delays in production.
Our activities are subject to regulation and supervision by regulatory agencies, including the ANP, which regulates oil and gas exploration and production activities. Issues such as local content policies, procedures for the unitization of areas, definition of reference prices for the calculation of royalties and governmental participation, among others, are under the ANPs control.
Changes in the regulation, as well as differences of interpretation between us and the agencies that regulate our industry, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. On March 30, 2017, the ANP charged the consortium BM-S-11 R$2.6 billion with respect to the Lula field, of which Petrobras is the operator, due to the ANPs recalculation of oil prices and the portion related to the Brazilian federal government participation. For more information, see Item 8. Financial Information Legal Proceedings Other Legal Proceedings.
Any future differences in interpretation between us and these regulatory agencies may materially impact our results of operations, since such interpretations directly affect the economic and technical premises that guide our investment decisions. In particular, there is no guarantee that ANP will agree with our request for a waiver of the Brazilian content based on (i) the lack of national production of goods and services, (ii) the higher price of products and services sold by local suppliers in relation to international suppliers, or (iii) the fact that national suppliers cannot perform timely, based on our schedule. Depending on the interpretation adopted by ANP on the facts presented by us to sustain our request of waiver, our business can be materially affected.
Differing interpretations of tax regulations or changes in tax policies could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to tax rules and regulation that may be interpreted differently over time, or that may be interpreted differently by us and Brazilian tax authorities (including the federal, state and municipal authorities), both of which could have a financial impact on our business. For example, in the second and third quarters of 2015, we recognized material charges related to settlements of certain tax liabilities. Although unanticipated, these charges relate to the settlement of disputes relating to tax regulations that allowed for certain tax contingencies to be settled at a reduced value. In some cases, when we have exhausted all administrative appeals relating to a tax contingency, further appeals must be made in the judicial courts, which may require that, in order to appeal, we provide collateral to judicial courts, such as the deposit of amounts equal to the potential tax liability in addition to accrued interest and penalties. In certain of these cases, settlement of the matter may be a more favorable option for us.
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In the future, we may face similar situations in which our interpretation of a tax regulation may differ from that of tax authorities, or tax authorities may dispute our interpretation and we may eventually take unanticipated provisions and charges. In addition, the eventual settlement of one tax dispute may have a broader impact on other tax disputes. Changes in interpretation or differing interpretations as to tax regulations, as well as our decision to settle any claims relating to such regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The absence of regulation for the application of Law No. 13,365/16, which provides for the exercise of our preemptive right in ANPs auctions for the blocks under the production sharing regime, may result in legal uncertainty in the bidding process, in the structuring of consortia and in our exploration activities.
In accordance with Law No. 13,365/2016, we have the option of being the operator of, and/or holding at least a 30% interest in, the exploration areas available for public bidding under the production sharing regime. As such, it is no longer mandatory for us to be the exclusive operator of exploration and production activities under this regime, including for the Pre-salt layer. Regardless of whether we exercise our preemptive right, we will also be able to participate, at our discretion, in the bidding process to increase our interest in these activities. For more information about the production sharing regime in Brazil, see Item 4. information on the CompanyRegulation of the Oil and Gas Industry in Brazil and Item 10. Additional Information Material Contracts.
Although the modifications brought by Law No. 13,365/16 seem positive to us, it is not possible, at this time, to know precisely under which conditions and in which part of the bidding rounds the preemptive right could become enforceable. As of April 2017, the regulation of this new piece of legislation has not yet been approved by the Brazilian government, which is necessary in order to avoid uncertainties during the bidding process and to clarify that we will not be obliged to undertake the conditions of the winning proposal in every possible scenario.
The Assignment Agreement we entered into with the Brazilian federal government is a related party transaction subject to future price revision.
We entered into an Assignment Agreement in 2010 with the Brazilian federal government, our controlling shareholder, to obtain oil and gas exploration and production rights for specific pre-salt areas, subject to a maximum production of five billion boe. At the time the Assignment Agreement was negotiated, the initial contract price paid by us was based on an assumed Brent oil crude price of approximately US$80 per barrel. However, the Assignment Agreement includes provisions for a subsequent revision of certain of its terms, including the price we paid for the rights we acquired, maximum volume, maturity and local content percentages.
Negotiations with the Brazilian federal government to revise the Assignment Agreement began in December 2013, and are still ongoing. Once the revision process is concluded pursuant to the terms of the Assignment Agreement, if the revised contract price is higher than the initial contract price, we will either make an additional payment to the Brazilian federal government or reduce the amount of barrels of oil equivalent subject to the Assignment Agreement.
We do not know when this negotiation will be completed, nor can we assure that the terms of this new agreement would be favorable to us, which could negatively impact our operating and financial results. See Item 4. Information on the CompanyExploration and Production-Santos BasinAssignment Agreement, Item 10. Material ContractsAssignment AgreementAdditional Production in the Assignment Agreement Areas and Note 12.3 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further information.
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Operations with related parties may not be properly identified and handled.
Generally, transactions with related parties are part of the business of large companies. For further information on our related party transactions, see Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party TransactionsRelated Party Transactions. Such transactions must follow market standards and generate mutual benefit. Decision processes surrounding such transactions must be objective and documented. Further, we must comply with the rules of competition and adequate disclosure of information, in accordance with the applicable legislation and as determined by the CVM and the SEC. The possible failure of our process to identify and deal with these situations may adversely affect our economic and financial condition, as well as lead to regulatory assessments by agencies.
Differing interpretations and numerous environmental, health and safety regulations and industry standards that are becoming more stringent may result in increased capital and operating expenditures and decreased production.
Our activities are subject to evolving industry standards and best practices, and a wide variety of federal, state and local laws, regulations and permit requirements relating to the protection of human health, safety and the environment, both in Brazil and in other jurisdictions in which we operate. In addition, we are subject to environmental laws that require us to incur significant costs to cover any damages that a project may cause to the environment. These additional costs may have a negative impact on the profitability of the projects we intend to implement or may make such projects economically unfeasible. See Item 4. Information on the CompanyRegulation of the Oil and Gas Industry in BrazilEnvironmental Regulations.
As environmental, health and safety regulations become more stringent with evolving industry standards, and as new laws and regulations relating to climate change, including carbon controls, become applicable to us, it is possible that our capital expenditures and investments to comply with such laws and regulations and industry standards will increase substantially in the future. Any substantial increase in expenditures for compliance with environmental, health or safety regulations or reduction in strategic investments and significant decreases in our production from unplanned shutdowns may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Furthermore, changes in interpretation or differing interpretations as to environmental, health and safety regulations, as well as our decision to settle any claims relating to such regulations, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and our results of operations.
We are subject to the granting of new environmental licenses and permits or to sanctions that may result in delays in delivering some of our projects and difficulties in reaching our crude oil and natural gas production objectives.
Our activities are subject to and depend on the granting of new environmental licenses and permits by a wide variety of federal, state and local law regulators, relating to the protection of human health, safety and the environment, both in Brazil and in other jurisdictions in which we operate. As environmental, health and safety regulations become increasingly complex, it is possible that our efforts to comply with such laws and regulations will increase substantially in the future.
We cannot ensure that the planned schedules and budgets of our projects will not be affected by internal procedures of the regulatory body or that the relevant licenses and permits will be issued in a timely manner, and this could impact our crude oil and natural gas production objectives, negatively influencing our results of operations and financial condition. For example, although the production unit P-66 is currently ready to operate at the Lula Field, in the pre-salt Santos Basin, we are waiting for the applicable operating license from the environmental federal authority (IBAMA) to be issued.
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We may be required by law to guarantee the supply of products or services to defaulted counterparties.
As a company controlled by the federal government and operating throughout Brazil, we may be required by the Brazilian courts to provide products and services to clients, and public and private institutions, with the purpose of guaranteeing supplies to the domestic oil market, even in situations where these clients and institutions are in default with contractual or legal obligations. Such supply in exceptional situations may adversely affect our financial position.
Risks Relating to our Strategy
Our divestment program depends on external factors that could impede its successful implementation.
Our 2017-2021 Plan includes, among other initiatives, a divestment program that contemplates partnerships and the sale of US$21 billion in assets for the period 2017-2018, with the goal of improving our short-term liquidity position (by increasing our cash balance) and allowing us to deleverage. For further information on our cash flow, see Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsLiquidity and Capital ResourcesSources of FundsOur Cash Flow. However, external factors, such as the sustained decline in oil prices, exchange rate fluctuations, the deterioration of Brazilian and global economic conditions, the Brazilian political crisis and judicial decisions, among other factors, may reduce or hinder sale opportunities for our assets or affect the price at which we can sell our assets, and may force us to alter the terms of our divestment program.
For the period from 2015-2016, we were unable to successfully implement all of the goals of our divestment program, due to administrative and judicial decisions. If we are unable to successfully implement our divestment program, this may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition, including by potentially exposing us to short and medium-term liquidity constraints. In addition, the sale of strategic assets under our divestment program will result in a decrease in our cash flows from operations, which could negatively impact our long-term operating growth prospects and consequently our results of operations in the medium and long-term. For further information, see Item 8. Financial Information Legal Proceedings Legal Proceedings and Preliminary Procedure on TCU Divestments and note 10.4 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Many of our projects and operations are conducted in joint arrangements or associations, which may not perform as expected, negatively impacting our results.
In our 2017-2021 Plan, we plan to establish partnerships to reduce risks in exploration and production, refining, transportation, logistics, distribution and commercialization activities. In cases where we are not the operator, we have limited influence and control over the behavior, performance and costs of operation of such joint arrangements or associations. Despite not having control, we could still be exposed to the risks associated with these operations, including reputational, litigation (where joint and several liability could apply) and government sanction risks, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flow and financial condition.
For example, our partners or members of a joint arrangement or an association may not be able to meet their financial or other obligations, threatening the viability of the relevant project. Where we are the operator of a joint arrangement, the other partner(s) could still veto or block certain decisions, which could be to our overall detriment.
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The selection and development of our investment projects involve risks that may affect our originally expected results of operation.
We have numerous project opportunities in our portfolio of investments. Since most projects are characterized by a long development period, we may face changes in market conditions, such as changes in prices, consumer preferences and demand profile, exchange rates, and financing conditions of projects that may jeopardize our expected rate of return on these projects.
In addition, we face specific risks for oil and gas projects. Despite our experience in the exploration and production of oil in deepwater and ultra-deepwater and the continuous development of studies during the planning stages, the quantity and quality of oil produced in a certain field will only be fully known in the phases of deployment and operation, which may require adjustments throughout the project life cycle.
In addition, we are not immune to potential risks arising from problems in contracting goods and services and in relationships with suppliers, partners, governments and local representatives. All these factors can impact our business and results of operation.
The mobilization and demobilization of our ventures may affect the expectations and dynamics of the communities where we operate, impacting our business and reputation.
Acting with social and environmental responsibility in the communities where we carry out our activities is one of our strategic goals. However, we cannot control the changes in local dynamics and the expectations of the communities where we establish our businesses. The schedule or budget of our projects may be affected, or even hindered or rendered unviable, as a result of social impacts directly and indirectly resulting from our decisions and activities, especially those related to the mobilization and demobilization of our projects, due to lawsuits, financial impacts and consequences on our reputation.
The performance of the companies that have licensed our brand may negatively impact our image and reputation.
In our 2017-2021 Plan, we plan to carry out substantial divestitures and partnerships. A number of these transactions will involve licensing agreements of our brand for future buyers and partners. Failures, errors, accidents in the performance of such partners, and improper use of our brand, among other factors, could potentially negatively impact our image and reputation.
This risk may impact us in cases where the licensed company has a contrasting position with regards to our values of respect for life, people and the environment. As a consequence, there may be situations wherein product failures and/or accidents are not properly mitigated, making our relationship with our stakeholders difficult. We cannot ensure that there will be no impact on our relationship with local governments, which could affect the granting of new environmental licenses or sanctions, and impact on our consumers, who may stop buying our products, thus affecting our image and reputation, negatively impacting us in the business environment and challenging the implementation of our strategies and achievement of our objectives.
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We have assets and investments in other countries, where the political, economic and social situation may negatively impact our business.
We operate and have businesses in several countries, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico, in the U.S., in South America, in Europe, in Asia and in Africa, in areas where there may be political, economic and social instabilities. For further information on our operations abroad, see Item 4. Information on the CompanyExploration and Production. In such regions, external factors may adversely affect the operating results and the financial condition of our subsidiaries in these countries, including: (i) the imposition of price controls; (ii) the imposition of restrictions on hydrocarbon exports; (iii) the fluctuation of local currencies against the real; (iv) nationalization of our oil and gas reserves and our assets; (v) increases in export tax and income tax rates for oil and oil products; and (vi) unilateral (governmental) and contractual institutional changes, including controls on investments and limitations on new projects.
If one or more of the risks described above occurs, we may lose part or all of our reserves in the affected country and may also fail to achieve our strategic objectives in these countries, or in our international operations as a whole, which may negatively impact our operating results and financial resources.
The ability to develop, adapt, and access new technologies is fundamental to our competitiveness.
The oil industry is characterized by a strong technological base. Development and accessibility of, and adaptability to, technological change is essential for our competitiveness. In the event some disruptive technology is introduced into the oil industry, changing performance standards, it would be important for us to have access to this technology, which may impact our competitiveness in relation to other companies.
In addition, the availability of technologies that ensure the maintenance of our reserve rates and the viability of production in an efficient manner, as well as the development of new products and processes that respond to environmental regulations and new market trends, play a key role in maintaining our long-term competitiveness. Our pre-salt operations require continuous technological development for exploration, production and continuous cost reduction, which impact our competitiveness in the market.
Climate change could impact our operating results and strategy.
Climate change poses new challenges and opportunities for our business. More stringent environmental regulations can result in the imposition of costs associated with GHG emissions, either through environmental agency requirements relating to mitigation initiatives or through other regulatory measures such as GHG emissions taxation and market creation of limitations on GHG emissions that have the potential to increase our operating costs.
The risks associated with climate change could also manifest in difficulties accessing capital due to public image issues with investors; changes in the consumer profile, with reduced consumption of fossil fuels; and energy transitions in the world economy, such as increasing electrification in urban mobility. These factors may have a negative impact on the demand for our products and services and may jeopardize or even impair the implementation and operation of our businesses, adversely impacting our operating and financial results and limiting some of our growth opportunities.
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Business Risks
We are exposed to the effects of fluctuations in the prices of oil, gas and oil products.
Most of our revenue in Brazil is from sales of crude oil products and, to a lesser extent, natural gas. International prices for oil and oil products are volatile and the prices of our products are strongly influenced by conditions and expectations of world supply and demand. Volatility and uncertainty in international prices for crude oil, oil products and natural gas will most likely continue. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsSales Volumes and Prices for further information on the variation of oil, oil products and gas prices. Changes in oil prices usually result in changes in the prices of oil products and natural gas.
In October 2016, our board of directors approved a new diesel and gasoline pricing policy. For further information on our current pricing policy, see Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsSales Volumes and Prices. Since one of the goals of our new pricing policy is to maintain fuel prices in parity with international market trends, substantial or extended declines in international crude oil prices may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition, and may also affect the value of our proved reserves and lead to a decision to cancel or extend our projects.
In the past, we did not always adjust our prices to reflect parity with the international market trends or reflect exchange rate volatility. Our pricing policy is adapted from time to time by our management; we cannot assure you that our pricing policy will not be changed in the future. In the event our pricing policy changes based on the decisions of the Brazilian federal government, as our controlling shareholder, we may have periods in the future during which our prices for diesel and gasoline will not be at parity with international product prices (See Risks Relating to Our Relationship with the Brazilian Federal GovernmentThe Brazilian federal government, as our controlling shareholder, may pursue certain macroeconomic and social objectives through us that may have a material adverse effect on us). Such change in policy could have a material adverse effect on our businesses, results of operations and financial condition.
Market fluctuations, related to political instability, acts of terrorism, armed conflict and war in various regions of the world, may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Geopolitical risk factors have recently become more prominent in the world. Events such as the United Kingdoms exit from the European Union (Brexit), the increasing tension between the U.S. and other countries, the escalation of the conflict in Syria, the terrorist attacks and political movements in Europe indicate the growing possibility that new events may occur that affect, directly or indirectly, markets related to the oil industry, which could negatively impact our business and result in substantial losses.
Developments in the oil and gas industry and other factors have resulted, and may result, in substantial write-downs of the carrying amount of certain of our assets, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We evaluate on an annual basis, or more frequently when the circumstances require, the carrying amount of our assets for possible impairment. Our impairment tests are performed by a comparison of the carrying amount of an individual asset or a cash-generating unit with its recoverable amount. Whenever the recoverable amount of an individual asset or cash-generating unit is less than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized to reduce the carrying amount to the recoverable amount.
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Changes in the economic, regulatory, business or political environment in Brazil or other markets where we operate, such as the recent significant decline in international crude oil and gas prices, the devaluation of the real and lower projected economic growth in Brazil, as well as changes in financing conditions, such as deterioration of risk perception and interest rates, for such projects, among other factors, may affect the original profitability estimates of our projects. For information about the impairment of certain of our assets, see Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsResults of Operations2016 compared to 2015 and Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsResults of Operations2015 compared to 2014, Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsCritical Accounting Policies and Estimates and Notes 5.2 and 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Future developments in the economic environment, in the oil and gas industry and other factors could result in further substantial impairment charges, adversely affecting our operating results and financial condition.
Maintaining our long-term objectives for oil production depends on our ability to successfully obtain and develop oil reserves.
Our ability to maintain our long-term objectives for oil production is highly dependent upon our ability to successfully develop our existing reserves, and to obtain additional reserves. The development of the sizable reservoirs in deepwater and ultra-deepwaters, including the pre-salt reservoirs that have been licensed and granted to us by the Brazilian federal government, has demanded and will continue to demand significant capital investments. See Item 4. Information on the CompanyExploration and Production and Information on the CompanyAdditional Reserves and Production Information, for further information on the capital investments required for exploration and production. We cannot guarantee that we will have or will be able to obtain, in the time frame that we expect, sufficient resources and financing necessary to exploit the reservoirs in deepwater and ultra-deepwaters that have been licensed and granted to us, or that may be licensed and granted to us in the future.
Our ability to obtain additional reserves depends upon exploration activities, which exposes us to the inherent risks of drilling, and may not lead to the discovery of commercially productive crude oil or natural gas reserves. Drilling wells often yields uncertain results, and numerous factors beyond our control (such as unexpected drilling conditions, equipment failures or incidents, and shortages or delays in the availability of drilling rigs and the delivery of equipment) may cause drilling operations to be curtailed, delayed or cancelled. In addition, increased competition in the oil and gas sector in Brazil and our own capital constraints may make it more difficult or costly to obtain additional acreage in bidding rounds for new concessions and to explore existing concessions.
Also, our ability to maintain our long-term objectives for oil production partially depends on conducting major projects and operations in joint arrangements or in partnership with other oil and gas companies. If we or our partners fail or are unable to meet with respective payment obligations under applicable contractual arrangements, this may threaten the viability of a given project, and may result either in a delay in, or cancellation of, such project, which could bring regulatory sanctions to the relevant joint arrangement or partnership, an increase or dilution of our interest in such project or our withdrawal from such project, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. These factors could impede us from participating in further bidding rounds in the future and limit future exploration. We may not be able to maintain our long-term objectives for oil production unless we conduct successful exploration and development activities of our large reservoirs in a timely manner.
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Our crude oil and natural gas reserve estimates involve some degree of uncertainty, which could adversely affect our ability to generate income.
Our proved crude oil and natural gas reserves set forth in this annual report are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions (i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made) according to applicable regulations. Reserve estimates presented are based on assumptions and interpretations, which present uncertainties and contingencies that are beyond our control. If the geological and engineering data that we use to measure our reserves are not accurate, our reserves may be significantly lower than the ones currently indicated in the volume estimates of our portfolio and reported by the certification companies. Substantial downward revisions in our reserve estimates could lead to lower future production, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. For further information relating to our crude oil and natural gas estimates, see Item 4. Information on the CompanyAdditional Reserves and Production Information, Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsCritical Accounting Policies and Estimates, Note 5.1 and Supplementary information on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production to our audited consolidated financial statements.
We do not own any of the subsoil accumulations of crude oil and natural gas in Brazil.
Under Brazilian law, the Brazilian federal government owns all subsoil accumulations of crude oil and natural gas in Brazil and the concessionaire owns the oil and gas it produces from those subsoil accumulations pursuant to applicable agreements executed with the Brazilian federal government. We possess, as a concessionaire of certain oil and natural gas fields in Brazil, the exclusive right to develop the volumes of crude oil and natural gas included in our reserves pursuant to concession and other agreements. For further information, see Item 4. Information on the CompanyRegulation of the Oil and Gas Industry in BrazilConcession Regime for Oil and Gas.
Access to crude oil and natural gas reserves is essential to an oil and gas companys sustained production and generation of income, and our ability to generate income would be adversely affected if the Brazilian federal government were to restrict or prevent us from exploiting these crude oil and natural gas reserves.
Risks Relating to Brazil and Our Relationship with the Brazilian Federal Government
The Brazilian federal government, as our controlling shareholder, may pursue certain macroeconomic and social objectives through us that may have a material adverse effect on us.
Our board of directors is composed of a minimum of seven and a maximum of ten members, elected at the annual general meeting for a term of up to two years, with a maximum of three consecutive reelections permitted. The majority of nominations of candidates for our board of directors depends on appointment by the federal government, our controlling shareholder.
Elections in Brazil occur every four years, and changes in elected representatives may lead to a change of the members of our board of directors appointed by the controlling shareholder, which may further impact the management of our business strategy and guidelines.
Moreover, the Brazilian federal government may pursue certain of its macroeconomic and social objectives through us. Brazilian law requires that the Brazilian federal government own a majority of our voting stock, and so long as it does, the Brazilian federal government will have the power to elect a majority of the members of our board of directors and, through them, a majority of the executive officers who are responsible for our day-to-day management. As a result, we may engage in activities that give preference to the objectives of the Brazilian federal government rather than to our own economic and business objectives.
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Accordingly, we may make investments, incur costs and engage in sales with parties or on terms that may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In particular, we may have to assist the Brazilian federal government in ensuring that the supply and pricing of crude oil and oil products in Brazil meets Brazilian consumption requirements. Prior to January 2002, prices for crude oil and oil products were regulated by the Brazilian federal government, occasionally set below prices prevailing in the world oil markets. We cannot assure you that price controls will not be reinstated in Brazil.
Our investment budget is subject to approval by the Brazilian federal government, and failure to obtain approval of our planned investments could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
The Brazilian federal government maintains control over our investment budget and establishes limits on our investments and long-term debt. As a state-controlled entity, we must submit our proposed annual budgets to the MPBM and the MME. Following review by these governmental authorities, the Brazilian Congress must approve our budget. Our approved budget may reduce or alter our proposed investments and incurrence of new debt, and we may be unable to obtain financing that does not require Brazilian federal government approval. As a result, we may not be able to make all the investments we envision, including those we have agreed to make to expand and develop our crude oil and natural gas fields, which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Fragility in the performance of the Brazilian economy, instability in the political environment, regulatory changes and investor perception of these conditions may adversely affect the results of our operations and our financial performance and may have a material adverse effect on us.
Our activities are strongly concentrated in Brazil. The Brazilian federal governments economic policies may have important effects on Brazilian companies, including us, and on market conditions and prices of Brazilian securities. Our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by the following factors and the Brazilian federal governments response to these factors:
| exchange rate movements and volatility; |
| inflation; |
| financing of government fiscal deficits; |
| price instability; |
| interest rates; |
| liquidity of domestic capital and lending markets; |
| tax policy; |
| regulatory policy for the oil and gas industry, including pricing policy and local content requirements; |
| allegations of corruption against political parties, elected officials or other public officials, including allegations made in relation to the Lava Jato investigation; and |
| other political, diplomatic, social and economic developments in or affecting Brazil. |
Uncertainty over whether the Brazilian federal government will implement changes in policy or regulations that may affect any of the factors mentioned above or other factors in the future may lead to economic uncertainty in Brazil and increase the volatility of the Brazilian securities market and securities issued abroad by Brazilian companies, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
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Historically, the countrys political scenario has influenced the performance of the Brazilian economy and political crises have affected the confidence of investors and the general public, which resulted in economic downturn and heightened volatility in the securities issued abroad by Brazilian companies. Although Brazilian authorities have publicly described Petrobras as a victim of the alleged illegal conduct identified during the Lava Jato investigation, any developments in the Lava Jato investigation (foreseeable and unforeseeable) could have a material adverse effect on the Brazilian economy and on our results of operations and financial condition.
Brazil has historically experienced high rates of inflation, particularly prior to 1995. Inflation, as well as government efforts to combat inflation, had significant negative effects on the Brazilian economy. More recently, inflation rates were 6.29% in 2016, 10.67% in 2015 and 6.41% in 2014, as measured by the IPCA, the National Consumer Price Index (Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo), compiled by IBGE. Brazil may experience high levels of inflation in the future and the Brazilian government may introduce policies to reduce inflationary pressures, which could have the effect of reducing the overall performance of the Brazilian economy. Some of these policies may have an effect on our ability to access foreign capital or reduce our ability to execute our future business and management plans, particularly for those projects that rely on foreign partners.
The Brazilian governments measures to control inflation have often included maintaining a tight monetary policy with high real interest rates. These policies have contributed to limiting the size and attractiveness of the local debt markets, requiring borrowers like us to seek foreign currency funding in the international capital markets. To the extent that there is economic uncertainty in Brazil, which weakens our ability to obtain external financing on favorable terms, the local Brazilian market may be insufficient to meet our financing needs, which in turn may have a material adverse effect on us.
Additionally, since 2011, Brazil has been experiencing an economic slowdown culminating in a Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, decrease of 3.6% in 2016. GDP growth rates were -3.8% in 2015, 0.5% in 2014, 3.0% in 2013 and 1.9% in 2012 (according to the GDP review released by IBGE). Our results of operations and financial condition have been, and will continue to be, affected by the growth rate of GDP in Brazil because a substantial portion of our oil products are sold in Brazil. We cannot ensure that GDP will increase or remain stable in the future. Future developments in the Brazilian economy may affect Brazils growth rates and, consequently, the consumption of our oil products. As a result, these developments could impair our results of operations and financial condition.
Allegations of political corruption against the Brazilian federal government and the Brazilian legislative branch could create economic and political instability.
In the past, members of the Brazilian federal government and the Brazilian legislative branch have faced allegations of political corruption. As a result, a number of politicians, including senior federal officials and congressmen, resigned or have been arrested. Currently, elected officials and other public officials in Brazil are being investigated for allegations of unethical and illegal conduct identified during the Lava Jato investigation being conducted by the Office of the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor. The potential outcome of these investigations is unknown, but they have already had an adverse impact on the image and reputation of the implicated companies (including Petrobras), in addition to the adverse impact on general market perception of the Brazilian economy. These proceedings, their conclusions or further allegations of illicit conduct could have additional adverse effects on the Brazilian economy. Such allegations may lead to further instability, or new allegations against Brazilian government officials and others may arise in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on us. We cannot predict the outcome of any such allegations nor their effect on the Brazilian economy.
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Risks Relating to Our Equity and Debt Securities
The size, volatility, liquidity or regulation of the Brazilian securities markets may curb the ability of holders of ADSs to sell the common or preferred shares underlying our ADSs.
Petrobras shares are among the most liquid traded on the São Paulo Stock Exchange, or BM&FBOVESPA, but overall, the Brazilian securities markets are smaller, more volatile and less liquid than the major securities markets in the United States and other jurisdictions, and may be regulated differently from the way in which U.S. investors are accustomed. Factors that may specifically affect the Brazilian equity markets may limit the ability of holders of ADSs to sell the common or preferred shares underlying our ADSs at the price and time they desire.
The market for PGFs debt securities may not be liquid.
Some of PGFs notes are not listed on any securities exchange and are not quoted through an automated quotation system. Most of PGFs notes are currently listed both on the New York Stock Exchange and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and trade on the NYSE Euronext and Euro MTF (Multilateral Trading Facility) market, respectively, although most trading in PGFs notes occurs over-the-counter. PGF can issue new notes that can be listed in markets other than the NYSE and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and traded in markets other than the NYSE Euronext and the Euro MTF market. We can make no assurance as to the liquidity of or trading markets for PGFs notes. We cannot guarantee that the holders of PGFs notes will be able to sell their notes in the future. If a market for PGFs notes does not develop, holders of PGFs notes may not be able to resell the notes for an extended period of time, if at all.
Holders of our ADSs may be unable to exercise preemptive rights with respect to the common or preferred shares underlying the ADSs.
Holders of ADSs who are residents of the United States may not be able to exercise the preemptive rights relating to the common or preferred shares underlying our ADSs unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is effective with respect to those rights or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. We are not obligated to file a registration statement with respect to the common or preferred shares relating to these preemptive rights, and therefore we may not file any such registration statement. If a registration statement is not filed and an exemption from registration does not exist, The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, will attempt to sell the preemptive rights, and holders of ADSs will be entitled to receive the proceeds of the sale. However, the preemptive rights will expire if the depositary cannot sell them. For a more complete description of preemptive rights with respect to the common or preferred shares, see Item 10. Additional InformationMemorandum and Articles of IncorporationPreemptive Rights.
If holders of our ADSs exchange their ADSs for common or preferred shares, they risk losing the ability to timely remit foreign currency abroad and forfeiting Brazilian tax advantages.
The Brazilian custodian for our common or preferred shares underlying our ADSs must obtain a certificate of registration from the Central Bank of Brazil to be entitled to remit U.S. dollars abroad for payments of dividends and other distributions relating to our preferred and common shares or upon the disposition of the common or preferred shares. Such remittances under an ADR program are subject to a specific tax treatment in Brazil that may be more favorable to a foreign investor if compared to remitting gains originated from securities directly acquired by the investor in the Brazilian regulated stock markets. Therefore, an investor who opts to exchange ADSs for the underlying common or preferred share may be subject to less favorable tax treatment on gains with respect to these investments.
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The conversion of ADSs directly into ownership of the underlying common or preferred shares is governed by CMN Resolution No. 4,373 and foreign investors who intend to do so are required to appoint a representative in Brazil for the purposes of Annex I of CMN Resolution No. 4,373, who will be in charge for keeping and updating the investors certificates of registrations with the Central Bank of Brazil, which entitles registered foreign investors to buy and sell directly on the BM&FBOVESPA. Such arrangements may require additional expenses from the foreign investor. Moreover, if such representatives fail to obtain or update the relevant certificates of registration, investors may incur in additional expenses or be subject to operational delays which could affect their ability to receive dividends or distributions relating to the common or preferred shares or the return of their capital in a timely manner.
The custodians certificate of registration or any foreign capital registration directly obtained by such holders may be affected by future legislative or regulatory changes, and we cannot assure such holders that additional restrictions applicable to them, the disposition of the underlying common or preferred shares, or the repatriation of the proceeds from the process will not be imposed in the future.
Holders of our ADSs may face difficulties in protecting their interests.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our bylaws and Brazilian Corporate Law, which differ from the legal principles that would apply if we were incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States or elsewhere outside Brazil. In addition, the rights of an ADS holder, which are derivative of the rights of holders of our common or preferred shares, as the case may be, to protect their interests are different under Brazilian Corporate Law than under the laws of other jurisdictions. Rules against insider trading and self-dealing and the preservation of shareholder interests may also be different in Brazil than in the United States. In addition, the structure of a class action in Brazil is different from that in the US, and under Brazilian law, shareholders in Brazilian companies do not have standing to bring a class action, and under our by-laws must, generally with respect to disputes concerning rules regarding the operation of the capital markets, arbitrate any such disputes. See Item 10. Additional InformationMemorandum and Articles of IncorporationDispute Resolution.
We are a state-controlled company organized under the laws of Brazil, and all of our directors and officers reside in Brazil. Substantially all of our assets and those of our directors and officers are located in Brazil. As a result, it may not be possible for holders of ADSs to effect service of process upon us or our directors and officers within the United States or other jurisdictions outside Brazil or to enforce against us or our directors and officers judgments obtained in the United States or other jurisdictions outside Brazil. Because judgments of U.S. courts for civil liabilities based upon the U.S. federal securities laws may only be enforced in Brazil if certain requirements are met, holders of ADSs may face greater difficulties in protecting their interest in actions against us or our directors and officers than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a state or other jurisdiction of the United States.
Holders of our ADSs do not have the same voting rights as our shareholders. In addition, holders of ADSs representing preferred shares do not have voting rights.
Holders of our ADSs do not have the same voting rights as holders of our shares. Holders of our ADSs are entitled to the contractual rights set forth for their benefit under the deposit agreements. ADS holders exercise voting rights by providing instructions to the depositary, as opposed to attending shareholders meetings or voting by other means available to shareholders. In practice, the ability of a holder of ADSs to instruct the depositary as to voting will depend on the timing and procedures for providing instructions to the depositary, either directly or through the holders custodian and clearing system.
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In addition, a portion of our ADSs represents our preferred shares. Under Brazilian law and our bylaws, holders of preferred shares do not have the right to vote in shareholders meetings. This means, among other things, that holders of ADSs representing preferred shares are not entitled to vote on important corporate transactions or decisions. See Item 10. Additional InformationMemorandum and Articles of IncorporationVoting Rights.
We would be required to pay judgments of Brazilian courts enforcing our obligations under the guaranty relating to PGFs notes only in reais.
If proceedings were brought in Brazil seeking to enforce our obligations in respect of the guaranty relating to PGFs notes, we would be required to discharge our obligations only in reais. Under Brazilian exchange controls, an obligation to pay amounts denominated in a currency other than reais, which is payable in Brazil pursuant to a decision of a Brazilian court, will be satisfied in reais at the rate of exchange in effect on the date of payment, as determined by the Central Bank of Brazil.
A finding that we are subject to U.S. bankruptcy laws and that the guaranty executed by us was a fraudulent conveyance could result in PGF noteholders losing their legal claim against us.
PGFs obligation to make payments on the PGF notes is supported by our obligation under the corresponding guaranty. We have been advised by our external U.S. counsel that the guaranty is valid and enforceable in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the United States. In addition, we have been advised by our general counsel that the laws of Brazil do not prevent the guaranty from being valid, binding and enforceable against us in accordance with its terms. In the event that U.S. federal fraudulent conveyance or similar laws are applied to the guaranty, and we, at the time we entered into the relevant guaranty:
| were or are insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of our entry into such guaranty; |
| were or are engaged in business or transactions for which the assets remaining with us constituted unreasonably small capital; or |
| intended to incur or incurred, or believed or believe that we would incur, debts beyond our ability to pay such debts as they mature; and |
| in each case, intended to receive or received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration therefor, |
then our obligations under the guaranty could be avoided, or claims with respect to that agreement could be subordinated to the claims of other creditors. Among other things, a legal challenge to the guaranty on fraudulent conveyance grounds may focus on the benefits, if any, realized by us as a result of the issuance of the PGF notes. To the extent that the guaranty is held to be a fraudulent conveyance or unenforceable for any other reason, the holders of the PGF notes would not have a claim against us under the relevant guaranty and would solely have a claim against PGF. We cannot ensure that, after providing for all prior claims, there will be sufficient assets to satisfy the claims of the PGF noteholders relating to any avoided portion of the guaranty.
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ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.Petrobras was incorporated in 1953 as the exclusive agent to conduct the Brazilian federal governments hydrocarbon activities. We began operations in 1954 and since then have been carrying out crude oil and natural gas production and refining activities in Brazil on behalf of the government. As of December 31, 2016, the Brazilian federal government owned 28.67% of our outstanding capital stock and 50.26% of our voting shares. See Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party TransactionsMajor Shareholders.Our common and preferred shares have been traded on the BM&FBOVESPA since 1968 and on the NYSE in the form of ADSs since 2000.
We lost our exclusive right to carry out oil and gas activities in Brazil when the Brazilian Congress amended the Brazilian Constitution, and subsequently passed Law No. 9,478/1997 in 1997. Enacted as part of a comprehensive reform of the oil and gas regulatory system, this law authorized the Brazilian federal government to contract with any state or privately-owned company to carry out all activities related to oil, natural gas and their respective products. This new law established a concession-based regulatory framework, ended our exclusive right to carry out oil and gas activities, and allowed open competition in all aspects of the oil and gas industry in Brazil. The law also created an independent regulatory agency, the ANP, to regulate the oil, natural gas and renewable fuel industry in Brazil and to create a competitive environment in the oil and gas sector. See Item 4. Information on the CompanyRegulation of the Oil and Gas Industry in BrazilPrice Regulation.
Following the discovery of large pre-salt reservoirs offshore Brazil, Congress passed in 2010 additional laws intended to regulate exploration and production activities in the pre-salt area, as well as other potentially strategic areas not already under concession. Under these new laws, we acquired from the Brazilian federal government through an Assignment Agreement the right to explore and produce up to five bnboe of oil, natural gas and other fluid hydrocarbons in specified pre-salt areas. Additionally, on December 2, 2013, based on these laws enacted in 2010, we executed our first agreement with the Brazilian federal government under a production sharing regime for the Libra field. On November 29, 2016, Law No. 13.365/2016 was enacted, which no longer requires us to be the operator in this area, but provides us with a right of first refusal to do so. It is no longer mandatory for us to be the exclusive operator. See Item 4. Information on the CompanyRegulation of the Oil and Gas Industry in Brazil, Item 10. Additional InformationMaterial ContractsAssignment Agreement and Item 10. Additional InformationMaterial ContractsProduction Sharing Agreement.
We operate through subsidiaries, joint ventures, joint operations, consolidated structured entities and associated companies established in Brazil and many other countries. Our principal executive office is located at Avenida República do Chile 65, 20031-912 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, our telephone number is (55-21) 3224-4477 and our website is www.petrobras.com.br. The information on our website, which might be accessible through a hyperlink resulting from this URL, is not and shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this annual report.
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We are one of the worlds largest integrated oil and gas companies, operating principally in Brazil where we are the dominant participant. As a result of our legacy as Brazils former sole producer and supplier of crude oil and oil products and our strong and continuous commitment to find and develop oil fields in Brazil, we have a large base of proved reserves and operate and produce most of Brazils oil and gas production. In 2016, our average domestic daily oil production was 2,144 mbbl/d, which represents more than 85% of Brazils total oil production. Most of our domestic proved reserves are located in the adjacent offshore Campos and Santos Basins in southeast Brazil. Their proximity allows us to optimize our infrastructure and limit our costs of development and production for our new discoveries. Additionally, we have developed special expertise in deepwater exploration and production from 47 years of developing Brazils offshore basins. We are applying the technical expertise we gained through developing the Campos Basin to the Santos Basin, which is expected to be the principal source of our future growth in proved reserves and oil production.
As of December 31, 2016, we had proved developed oil and gas reserves of 5,097.5 mmboe and proved undeveloped reserves of 4,372.8 mmboe in Brazil. The development of this large reserve base and the exploration of pre-salt areas have demanded, and will continue to demand, significant investments and the growth of our operations.
We operate substantially all of the refining capacity in Brazil. Most of our refineries are located in southeastern Brazil, within the countrys most populated and industrialized markets and adjacent to the sources of most of our crude oil in the Campos and Santos Basins. Our current domestic crude distillation capacity is 2,176 mbbl/d and our domestic refining throughput in 2016 was 1,819 mbbl/d. We meet our demand for oil products through a planned combination of oil products imports and domestic refining of crude oil, which seeks to optimize our margins. We are also involved in the production of petrochemicals. We distribute oil products through our own retail network and through wholesalers.
We participate in most aspects of the Brazilian natural gas market, including the logistics and processing of natural gas. To meet our domestic demand, we process natural gas derived from our onshore and offshore (mainly from fields in the Campos, Espírito Santo and Santos Basins) production, import natural gas from Bolivia, and to the extent necessary, import LNG through our regasification terminals. We also participate in the domestic power market primarily through our investments in gas-fired, fuel oil and diesel oil thermoelectric power plants and in renewable energy. In addition, we participate in the fertilizer business.
Outside of Brazil, we operate in 9 countries. In Latin America, our operations extend from exploration and production to marketing, retail services and natural gas. In North America, we produce oil and gas and have refining operations in the United States. In Africa, through a joint venture, we produce oil in Nigeria. In Japan, we sold 100% of the shares we owned in Nansei Seikyu (NSS), located on the island of Okinawa, as described below.
Comprehensive information and tables on reserves and production is presented at the end of Item 4. See Information on the CompanyAdditional Reserves and Production Information.
We have incurred a substantial amount of debt in order to finance the capital expenditures needed to meet our long term objectives, 65% of which (principal), or US$75 billion, will mature in the next five years. For more information about our indebtedness levels, see Risk Factors We have substantial liabilities and may be exposed to significant liquidity constraints in the near and medium term, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsLiquidity and Capital Resources.
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In addition, we take social responsibility seriously, and have guidelines involving the management of social risks, social-environmental investments and community relations. In 2016, we approved our social risk standard, which identifies and classifies social risks (including risks involving human rights in the supply chain and interaction with local communities), based on their likelihood of potential impact. The results of our analysis of these risks supports our decision-making process. We have an executive committee for communication and social responsibility to advise our executive board and, in 2016, we invested approximately US$34 million in 470 initiatives related to the socio-environmental projects we support. In addition, in 2016, (i) we strengthened our relationship with local communities, by developing action plans in 193 communities that neighbor our operational units and (ii) we signed on to the sixth edition of the Pro-Equity Gender and Race Program, an initiative to promote equality between men and women in the labor market, supported by the UN Women, the International Labor Organization and the Secretariat for Policies to Promote Racial Equality.
Our activities are currently organized into five business segments:
| Exploration and Production: this segment covers the activities of exploration, development and production of crude oil, LNG and natural gas in Brazil and abroad, for the primary purpose of supplying our domestic refineries and selling surplus crude oil and oil products produced in the natural gas processing plants to the domestic and foreign markets. The E&P segment also operates through partnerships with other companies; |
| Refining, Transportation and Marketing: this segment covers the activities of refining, logistics, transport and trading of crude oil and oil products in Brazil and abroad, exports of ethanol, extraction and processing of shale, as well as holding interests in petrochemical companies in Brazil; |
| Gas and Power: this segment covers the activities of transportation and trading of natural gas produced in Brazil and abroad, imported natural gas, transportation and trading of LNG, generation and trading of electricity, as well as holding interests in transporters and distributors of natural gas and in thermoelectric power plants in Brazil, in addition to being responsible for the fertilizer business; |
| Distribution: this segment covers the activities of Petrobras Distribuidora S.A, which sells oil products, ethanol and vehicle natural gas in Brazil. This segment also includes distribution of oil products operations abroad (South America); and |
| Biofuel: this business segment covers the activities of production of biodiesel and its co-products, as well as ethanol-related activities such as equity investments, production and trading of ethanol, sugar and the surplus electric power generated from sugarcane bagasse. |
Additionally, we have a Corporate segment that has activities that are not attributed to the other segments, notably those related to corporate financial management, corporate overhead and other expenses, including actuarial expenses related to the pension and medical benefits for retired employees and their dependents. For further information regarding our business segments, see Notes 4.2 and 29 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
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The following table sets forth key information for each business segment in 2016:
Key Information by Business Segment, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exploration and Production |
Refining, Transportation and Marketing |
Gas and Power |
Biofuel | Distribution | Corporate | Eliminations | Group Total |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
(US$ million) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales revenues |
33,675 | 62,588 | 9,401 | 240 | 27,927 | | (52,426 | ) | 81,405 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
2,055 | 8,644 | 1,252 | (351 | ) | 96 | (13,723 | ) | (1,638 | ) | (3,665 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets at December 31 |
140,096 | 52,580 | 19,488 | 522 | 6,230 | 33,769 | (5,702 | ) | 246,983 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures and investments |
13,509 | 1,168 | 717 | 96 | 139 | 230 | | 15,859 |
As part of our 2017-2021 Plan, our partnership and divestment program aims to improve our operating efficiencies, returns on capital, and generate additional cash to service our debt. The partnership and divestment program contemplates the sale of minority, majority or entire positions in certain of our subsidiaries, affiliates, and assets to strategic or financial investors or through public offerings.
Based on our internal valuation of assets that are considered for sale pursuant to the partnership and divestment program for the period 2017-2018, our goal is to receive proceeds of approximately US$21 billion. Nonetheless, changes in market conditions or in our evaluation of our different businesses, among other factors, may affect ongoing negotiations or the feasibility of potential transactions. In addition, the sale of these assets will impact our future results of operations.
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In 2015, 2016 and the beginning of 2017, we completed, among others, the following partnerships and divestments.
Signing Date |
Closing Date |
Transaction |
Transaction Nominal (US$ billion) | |||
03/31/2015 | 03/31/2015 | Disposal of assets in the Southern Basin (Bacia Austral), in the province of Santa Cruz, in Argentina |
0.1 | |||
10/23/2015 |
12/28/2015 |
Sale of 49% of Petrobras Gás S.A. (Gaspetro) |
0.5 | |||
05/13/2016 |
07/27/2016 |
Sale of the entire 67.19% interest in Petrobras Argentina |
0.9 | |||
07/29/2016 |
11/22/2016 |
Sale of the entire 66% interest in the exploratory block BM-S-8, in the Santos Basin |
2.5 | |||
10/17/2016 |
12/28/2016 |
Sale of 100% of the shares of Nansei Seikyu (NSS), located on the island of Okinawa, in Japan |
0.2 | |||
07/22/2016 |
01/04/2017 |
Sale of 100% of Petrobras Chile Distribuición Ltda. |
0.5 | |||
12/28/2016 |
02/03/2017 |
Sale of the entire 45.97% interest in Guarani S.A. |
0.2 | |||
12/15/2016 |
02/23/2017 |
Receipt of 24 million new common shares issued by São Martinho S.A., as payment for the merger, by São Martinho, of the 49% interest held by Petrobras Biocombustíveis in Nova Fronteira Biocombustível S.A. |
0.1** | |||
09/23/2016 |
04/04/2017 |
Sale of 90% of the shares of Nova Transportadora do Sudeste (NTS), a natural gas transportation company in Southeast Brazil (total transaction value includes debt settlement) |
5.2 | |||
Total |
10.2 |
* | Considering amounts received and future payments related to the transaction. |
** | Based on the average price weighted by trading volume of São Martinho shares in the 30 days prior to signing of contractual instruments of the merger. |
In 2015, 2016, and early 2017, up to April 13, 2017, we received proceeds from the sale of assets under our partnership and divestment program amounting to approximately US$7.7 billion, mainly resulting from the sale of (i) Nova Transportadora do Sudeste, (ii) the Carcará Oilfield, and (iii) Petrobras Argentina.
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In addition, we have signed agreements in transactions relating to our partnership and divestment program, which are currently pending closing or payment. Among others, the agreements listed below were signed in 2016. Completion of such transactions is subject to compliance with contractual and legal conditions precedent. Taking into account the signed deals in 2015-2016, our partnership and divestment program amounted to US$13.6 billion, out of our US$15.1 billion goal announced for the 2015-2016 period. Some of our divestment projects that were in progress had been suspended due to injunctions issued by Brazilian courts as part of ongoing judicial proceedings. Among others, (i) the partial sale of our share interest in BR Distribuidora and (ii) the assignment of concession rights in Baúna and Tartaruga Verde Fields were suspended as a result of these judicial injunctions. Moreover, on March 15, 2017, the TCU reversed its preliminary decision from December 2016 that had also prevented us from initiating new divestment projects and from concluding those projects that were in progress. Despite the fact that the reversal of the TCUs preliminary decision allowed us to reinitiate our partnerships and divestments program under modified procedures, some of these projects remained suspended by virtue of the judicial injunctions mentioned above. In order to comply with the new divestment process methodology approved by the TCU, which requires a more transparent process for the benefit of our investors and is now applicable to all of our divestment projects, we terminated all of our divestiment projects that were currently in progress (including the partial sale of our share interest in BR Distribuidora and the assignment of concession rights in Baúna and Tartaruga Verde Fields which had remained suspended by virtue of the judicial injunctions mentioned above). For further information on the TCU awards and other judicial proceedings related to our divestment program, see Item 8. Financial Information Legal Proceedings Legal Proceedings and Preliminary Procedure on TCU Divestments.
In 2016, we signed the agreements listed below, which are still pending closing.
Signing Date |
Transaction |
Transaction Nominal Value* (US$ billion) | ||
11/17/2016 | Sale of 100% of the shares held by Petrobras in Liquigás Distribuidora S.A. |
0.8** | ||
12/28/2016 |
Sale of all the shares held by Petrobras in its wholly-owned subsidiaries Companhia Petroquímica de Pernambuco (PetroquímicaSuape) and Companhia Integrada Têxtil de Pernambuco (Citepe) |
0.4 | ||
12/28/2016 |
Strategic Alliance with the French Company Total in the upstream and downstream segments. We have signed contracts for (i) joint exploratory studies in the region of the Equatorial Margin and the Santos Basin; and (ii) a technological partnership agreement in the areas of digital petrophysics, geological processing and underwater production systems. In addition, the contracts provide for the assignment of 22.5% of Petrobras rights to Total in the concession area Iara; transfer of 35% of the rights, as well as operation, of the concession of Lapa field Block BM-S-9, leaving Petrobras with 10%; transfer of 50% of Petrobras participation in Termobahia, including the thermoelectric plants Rômulo de Almeida e Celso Furtado, with the option of acquisition by Petrobras of 20% of the participation in block 2 in the Perdido Foldbelt area in the Mexican sector of the Gulf of Mexico. |
2.2 | ||
Total |
3.4 |
* | Considering amounts to be received at the closing of the transaction and subsequent payments. |
** | Considering the exchange rate as of December 31, 2016. |
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In addition, our board of directors has approved changes to our organizational structure and our governance and management model, which resulted in the elimination of 43% of all management functions in non-operational units, which we expect will lead to cost savings amounting up to R$1.8 billion (US$507 million) per year. This new model seeks to align our management and our structure to our 2017-2021 Plan and our current business environment, promote cost savings and strengthen compliance and internal controls processes. It also involves the integration of activities among our business and corporate segments, and the combination of areas to enhance accountability for business results. For further information on our voluntary separation incentive program, see Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and EmployeesEmployees and Labor RelationsVoluntary Separation Incentive ProgramPIDV.
Our board of directors approved our 2017-2021 Plan in September 2016. Our 2017-2021 Plan contains five key elements of our vision that are broken down into strategies, with systematic follow-up, as detailed below.
| Integrated energy company: (i) reduce our risk in operations related to our exploration and production, refining, transportation, logistics, distribution and marketing through partnerships and divestments; (ii) restructure our energy business by consolidating thermoelectric assets and other businesses in this segment, seeking an alternative that maximizes value; and (iii) review the positioning of our lubricant business in order to maximize value generation. |
| Focus on oil and gas: (i) manage our exploratory portfolio, aiming to maximize return and guarantee the sustainability of our oil and gas production; (ii) manage our portfolio of exploration and production projects in an integrated way; (iii) optimize our business portfolio by fully exiting biofuel production, distribution of LPG, fertilizer production and petrochemical investments, and preserving technological competencies in areas with potential for development; and (iv) maximize value generation in the gas chain, following regulatory evolution, ensuring the monetization of proprietary production and optimizing participation in the chain of natural gas as a fuel of transition for the long term. |
| Evolve with society: (i) strengthen our internal controls and governance, ensuring the transparency and effectiveness of our program to prevent and combat deviations, without decelerating our decision making process; (ii) strengthen our relationship and reputation with all stakeholders, including our controlling and supervisory bodies; (iii) maintain transparent and proactive dialogue with all stakeholders, using the best and most modern internal and external communication practices; and (iv) align social responsibility actions with our projects. |
| Value Generation: (i) strengthen our reservoir management to maximize the value of our exploration and production contracts in all regulatory regimes, while searching for opportunities for continued incorporation of reserves; (ii) ensure disciplined use of capital and shareholder returns in all of our projects; (iii) continuously maximize productivity and cost savings in line with best international practices; (iv) promote market price policies and maximize margins in the value chain; (v) act with emphasis on partnerships and divestments as key elements for the value generation; (vi) promote the management of our workforce in a participatory environment and a culture of mutual trust focused on results that add value and encourage safety, ethics, responsibility, meritocracy, simplicity and compliance; and (vii) manage our procurement process with a focus on value that is aligned with international standards and metrics and meets compliance requirements, maintains flexibility to adverse scenarios and demand volatility, and contributes to the development of the chain as a whole. |
| Technical capacity: (i) ensure the constant development of technological skills and creating alternatives for competitive action in low carbon technologies, renewable energy and refining-petrochemical integration; (ii) prioritize the development of production in deepwaters, acting primarily through partnerships; and (iii) enable the design and implementation of projects with low oil balance prices, focused on safety and compliance with environmental requirements. |
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Exploration and Production Key Statistics |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
(US$ million) | ||||||||||||
Exploration and Production: |
||||||||||||
Sales revenues |
33,675 | 35,680 | 68,611 | |||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
2,055 | (3,683 | ) | 21,850 | ||||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
123,056 | 109,724 | 140,582 | |||||||||
Capital expenditures and investments |
13,509 | 19,131 | 25,500 |
Our oil and gas exploration and production activities are the largest components of our investment portfolio. Our activities are concentrated in deepwater oil reservoirs in Brazil. Our domestic activities represented 94% of our worldwide production in 2016 and accounted for 98% of our worldwide reserves on December 31, 2016. Over the last five years, approximately 90% of our total Brazilian production has been oil.
Brazils richest oil fields are located offshore, most of them in deepwaters. We have been conducting offshore exploration and production activities in the Campos Basin since 1971, when we started exploration, and our major discoveries were made in deepwater and ultra-deepwater. Our technology and expertise have created a competitive advantage for us and we have become globally recognized as innovators in the technology required to explore and produce hydrocarbons in deep and ultra-deepwaters. In 2016, offshore production accounted for 92% of our production in Brazil and deepwater production accounted for 86% of our production in Brazil. According to production data from WoodMackenzie, we operate more production (on a boe basis) from fields in deepwater and ultra-deepwater than any other company.
Historically, we focused our offshore exploration and production activities on sandstone turbidite reservoirs, located primarily in the Campos Basin. In 2006, we were successful in drilling through a massive salt layer off the Brazilian coast that stretches from the Campos to the Santos Basin. This pre-salt area has many large carbonate reservoirs with well-preserved oil, leading to a number of important discoveries. This pre-salt province occupies an area of approximately 149,000 km² (36.8 million acres), of which we have rights to produce from 16% of the total area (around 23,340 km² or 5.8 million acres), through acreage assigned to us under Concession Agreements, the Assignment Agreement and a Production Sharing Agreement.
The pre-salt reservoirs we have discovered are located in deepwater and ultra-deepwaters at total depths of up to 7,000 meters (22,965 feet). The southern part of the pre-salt province consists of the Santos Basin, where the salt layer is approximately two kilometers thick. In the northern part of the pre-salt province, the salt is thinner and much of the oil has migrated through the salt to the post-salt sandstone reservoirs of the Campos Basin. While some of the oil that formed has migrated, we still have made important discoveries in pre-salt reservoirs in the Campos Basin, as we drilled through the salt layers. Most of our current and future capital will be committed to developing the oil found in the pre-salt province, with an emphasis on the Santos Basin, given the size of its reservoirs and its potential.
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The map below shows the location of our pre-salt reservoirs.
Outside Brazil, we have long been active in South America, the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. We focus on opportunities to leverage the deepwater expertise we have developed in Brazil. Since 2012, we have been substantially reducing our international activities through the sale of assets to meet our announced divestment targets. We have also expanded partnerships with other large oil companies, including Total (headquartered in France), Galp (Portugal) and Statoil (Norway), aiming to combine these companies technical capabilities, and allow for potential joint ventures in exploration, production and infrastructure of oil and gas in areas of common interest worldwide.
Our activities by region
Brazil
Domestic exploration and production assets are the main components of our portfolio, representing 79% of our worldwide exploratory blocks, 96% of our global oil production and 98% of our oil and natural gas reserves.
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The following map shows our exploration and production areas in Brazil as of December 2016.
Campos Basin
The Campos Basin is the most prolific oil and gas basin in Brazil in terms of proved hydrocarbon reserves and annual production. Our activities in the basin began in 1971 and we are now focused on maintaining our production in relatively mature fields. We have been able to mitigate the natural decline in mature fields of this basin by installing new production systems, tapping pre-salt reservoirs with both new and existing production units and improving operational efficiency. All of our licenses in the Campos Basin are under concession agreements. See Regulation of the Oil and Gas Industry in Brazil.
Most of our production in the Campos Basin is from post-salt reservoirs, but pre-salt reservoirs in the basin are a growing source of production. We first began pre-salt oil production in 2008 in the Jubarte field located in the Parque das Baleias region. In 2016, the Campos Basin pre-salt area average production of oil was 245.4 mbbl/d, which represents an increase of 1% compared to 2015. We have a 100% interest in oil produced from the Campos Basin pre-salt reservoirs.
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Santos Basin
The Santos Basin is one of the most promising offshore exploration and production areas in the world, containing the southern and most prolific part of the pre-salt province. Our activities in the Santos Basin began with the acquisition of eight blocks through public auction under concession agreements in 2000 and 2001. In 2010, we entered into an Assignment Agreement with the Brazilian federal government, under which we were assigned exclusive rights to explore and produce five billion barrels of oil equivalents in the Santos Basin. In 2013, a consortium led by Petrobras (holding a 40% interest and acting as exclusive operator of the area), Shell (20% interest), Total (20% interest), CNPC (10% interest) and CNOOC (10% interest) was awarded the rights and obligations to explore and develop the Libra block in the ultra-deepwaters of the Santos Basin in the first production-sharing regime auction ever held in Brazil. See Regulation of the Oil and Gas Industry in Brazil and Item 10. Additional InformationMaterial Contracts.
The Assignment Agreement and Libra areas are currently in development and appraisal phases, respectively, and have shown very successful results and will ensure our long-term reserves and production curve. In 2016, we commenced a new bid process for the Libra Pilot Project FPSO, following the cancellation of the previous bid process, which began on August 12, 2015, because it resulted in a proposal with an abnormally high price compared to what could be expected in the international market.
We have been increasing the pre-salt oil production in the Santos Basin by, on average, 91% year over year since its first oil production, in 2009, with an average productivity of 23 mbbl/d per well on the new wells. We continue to concentrate our efforts on gathering information about the pre-salt reserves through EWTs (Extended Well Tests) and pilots. We currently have two units that can perform EWTs in the Santos Basin pre-salt area. In 2016, one EWT was performed in Búzios field and another in Sépia field. There is another on stream in Búzios field.
Other Basins
We produce hydrocarbons and hold exploration acreage in 18 other basins in Brazil. While our onshore production is primarily in mature fields, we plan to sustain and slightly increase production in these fields by enhancing recovery methods. The most significant potential for exploratory success within our other basins is the equatorial margin and east margin.
South America
We conduct exploration and production activities in Argentina, Bolivia, and Colombia.
| In Argentina, through our 100% interest in Petrobras Operaciones S.A., or POSA. Our oil and gas production is concentrated in the Neuquén Basin. |
| In Bolivia, our oil and gas production comes principally from the San Alberto and San Antonio fields, which are operated mainly to supply gas to Brazil and Bolivia. |
| In Colombia, our portfolio includes the Tayrona offshore exploration block and the Villarica Norte onshore exploration block. |
North America
| In the United States, we focus on deepwater fields in the Gulf of Mexico. Our production in the United States during 2016 originated mainly from the Cascade, Chinook, Saint Malo, Lucius, Hadrian South and Cottonwood fields. The Cascade and Chinook development project was the first in the Gulf of Mexico to use an FPSO. |
| In Mexico, we have held non-risk service contracts through our joint venture with PTD Servicios Multiplos SRL for the Cuervito and Fronterizo blocks in the Burgos Basin since 2003. Under these service contracts, we receive fees for our services. |
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Africa
We explore oil and gas opportunities in Africa exclusively through our 50% interest in a joint venture with BTG Pactual, Petrobras Oil & Gas (PO&G). The assets of this joint venture include the Agbami and Akpo fields, in Nigeria, which are both producing oil. PO&G also has a 16% interest in the Egina field project, currently in its development stage while the Preowei and Egina South discoveries are under appraisal. In 2016, PO&G relinquished Block 26 in Angola and Block 8 in Tanzania. PO&G also withdrew from the joint operation agreements in relation to the Ntsina Marin and Mbeli Marin permits in Gabon in June 2016. According to such agreements, the respective participating interests have yet to be transferred to the remaining joint venture partner.
Oil and Gas Production Activities
In 2016, our oil and gas worldwide production averaged 2.55 Mboe/d, a 1% decline compared to the previous year (2.58 Mboe/d), and our oil worldwide production averaged 2.22 Mbbl/d, the same level compared to the previous year. Brazil represented 94% of our worldwide oil and gas production in 2016.
Our domestic oil production in 2016 was of 2,144 mmbbl/d, 0.7% higher than in 2015 and in line with the 2,145 mmbbl/d target projected in our 2015-2019 Plan.
Pre-salt operated oil production averaged 1.02 Mbbl/d, the highest ever, representing a 33% increase compared to the previous year. Pre-salt oil production reached 1.34 Mbbl/d on December 29, 2016, achieving a new daily production record, with only 65 producing wells. Of these wells, 42 are located in the Santos Basin and were responsible for 48.2% of that production (646.5 mbbl/d).
Despite the natural gas output, which decreased by 5% compared to the previous year, our domestic total production averaged 2.39 Mboe/d in 2016, the same level compared to the previous year.
The main highlights for production expansion in 2016 were the significant production growth in the Lula field (Iracema Norte and Iracema Sul areas, with FPSOs Cidade de Itaguaí and Cidade de Mangaratiba) and in the Sapinhoá field (FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela), located in the Santos Basins pre-salt layer, in addition to the Parque das Baleias area (P-58), in the Espírito Santo state section of the Campos Basin. Additionally, operations for three production systems started, two of which are located in the Lula field (FPSO Cidade de Maricá and FPSO Cidade de Saquarema) and one in Lapa (FPSO Cidade de Caraguatatuba), located in the Santos Basins pre-salt layer.
Oil and gas production abroad averaged 161.1 mboe/d in 2016, a 15% decrease from the 190.1 mboe/d recorded in 2015, primarily due to executed divestments, such as the sale of Petrobras Argentina.
Our average production per region as of December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is summarized in the table below:
Production |
Oil (mbbl/d) | Gas (mmcf/d) | Total (mboe/d) | Stationary production units |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brazil |
2,144 | 2,128 | 2,034 | 1,459 | 1,544 | 1,500 | 2,387 | 2,386 | 2,284 | 122 | 121 | 123 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Campos Basin |
1,358 | 1,488 | 1,526 | 525 | 577 | 548 | 1,446 | 1,584 | 1,617 | 55 | 56 | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Santos Basin |
557 | 395 | 247 | 528 | 487 | 413 | 645 | 477 | 316 | 15 | 12 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Basins |
229 | 245 | 261 | 405 | 479 | 539 | 296 | 325 | 352 | 51 | 52 | 55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South America (excluding Brazil) |
22 | 39 | 57 | 395 | 475 | 546 | 88 | 118 | 148 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North America |
33 | 31 | 27 | 88 | 67 | 13 | 48 | 42 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Africa |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity and non-consolidated affiliates |
25 | 30 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 30 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South America (excluding Brazil) |
1 | 3 | 5 | 0.3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Africa |
24 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total |
2,224 | 2,228 | 2,150 | 2,027 | 2,087 | 2,061 | 2,547 | 2,575 | 2,494 | 124 | 123 | 125 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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We recognized impairment losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 of US$2.3 billion with respect to our domestic exploration and production producing properties due to (i) the appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar, (ii) the review of our price assumptions, (iii) our annual reviews of oil and gas reserves, (iv) decommissioning cost estimates and (v) a higher discount rate following the increase in Brazils risk premium. This amount also includes an impairment reversal relating to Centro Sul group, amounting to US$415 million, was recognized due to the higher estimates of reserves and production and the lower estimates of operating expenses. The decommissioning of a unit, which had high operational costs, and the replacement of another unit by an investment in a new processing plant, which was committed during the third quarter of 2016, also contributed to such impairment reversal. We have also recognized impairment losses of US$0.9 billion with respect to oil and gas production and drilling equipment, which were not directly related to producing properties in Brazil, mainly due to uncertainties over the ongoing hulls construction of the FPSOs P-71, P-72 and P-73.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, we previously recognized impairment losses of US$8.7 billion with respect to our domestic exploration and production producing properties due to the impact of the decline in international crude oil prices on the price assumptions for certain of our domestic crude oil and natural gas producing properties, including Papa-Terra, Centro Sul group, Uruguá group, Espadarte, among others, the use of a higher discount rate (reflecting an increase in Brazils risk premium), as well as the geological revision of Papa-Terra reservoir. We have also recognized impairment losses of US$0.5 billion with respect to oil and gas production and drilling equipment, which were not directly related to producing properties in Brazil, mainly related to the idle capacity of two drilling rigs in the future and to the use of a higher discount rate. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, we also recognized impairment losses of US$0.6 billion in E&P assets abroad, mainly in productive properties located in the United States (US$0.4 billion) and Bolivia (US$0.2 billion), attributable to the decline in international crude oil prices.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, we previously recognized impairment losses of US$1.6 billion with respect to our domestic exploration and production operations mainly related to the impact of the decline in international crude oil prices on our price assumptions and were principally recognized for the following fields: Frade, Pirapitanga, Tambuatá, Carapicu and Piracucá. We also recognized impairment losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 of US$0.5 billion with respect to oil and gas production and drilling equipment located in Brazil, unrelated to crude oil and natural gas producing properties, mainly related to idle capacity of two drilling rigs and to the demobilization of two oil platforms, which were not deployed in any oil and gas property as of December 31, 2014. For the fiscal year ended December 31 2014, we also recognized impairment losses of US$1.7 billion in E&P assets abroad, mainly in Cascade and Chinook producing properties located in the United States (US$1.6 billion) and were mainly attributable to the decline in international crude oil prices.
For further Information on impairment losses in 2016, 2015 and 2014, see Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
For 2017, we expect to produce 2.07 MMbbl/d of oil in Brazil (3.5% below our average in 2016), as a result of divestments and natural decline of our production areas, even considering a new unit start-up in Santos Basin pre-salt layer (FPSO P-66 in Lula field) and the ramp-up of the recently installed systems. For more information on new production systems, see the following section Production Development.
Lifting Cost
In 2016, our average lifting cost excluding government fees was US$10.33 per boe, which is a decrease of 11% compared to the average cost of US$11.67 per boe mined in 2015. This decrease is due mainly to the reduction of intervention activities in wells in the Campos Basin and a higher percentage of pre-salt participation in our total production, which has lower operating costs.
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Capital Expenditures in E&P
In 2016, as a result of the oil price volatility in international markets and the depreciation of the real against the US dollar we decreased capital expenditures in order to meet our objectives of financial deleveraging and value generation for our shareholders. In our 2017-2021 Business Plan, we maintain our focus on the development of our reservoirs in Brazil, especially in the pre-salt layer.
Out of US$60.6 billion capital expenditures in exploration and production for the next five years, 76% will be allocated to production development, 11% to exploration and 13% to operating support. The capital expenditures in exploration and production activities in 2016 (in Brazil and abroad) amounted to US$13.5 billion, a 29% decrease compared to capital expenditures for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, mainly attributable to a reduction of exploration activities, projects optimization and the effect of exchange rate fluctuation. Brazil represented 97% of our exploration and production investments in 2016. See Liquidity and Capital ResourcesUse of funds for further information on our investments.
Exploration
As of December 31, 2016, we had 166 exploratory blocks in which 36 discoveries were under evaluation. We also had two discoveries being assessed in production areas. As of December 31, 2016, we had a 100% working interest in 63 exploratory blocks. We also had exploration partnerships with 28 foreign and domestic companies, for a total of 103 exploratory blocks. We serve as the operator in 66 of these exploration partnership blocks. We hold interest ranging from 20% to 89% in the exploration areas under concession or assigned to us.
In the Campos Basin, our exploration efforts are in the Pre-Salt Layer with the Gávea and Forno discoveries. In Santos Basin, Libra Consortium drilled the largest net pay in the Pre-Salt Layer in the block, confirming a discovery of good-quality oil (28º API) in highly productive reservoirs. The table below breaks down our investments in exploration activities in 2016, which totaled US$749 million.
Net Exploratory Area (km²) |
Exploratory Blocks | Evaluation Plans | Wells Drilled | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brazil |
43,966 | 55,366 | 63,789 | 131 | 146 | 158 | 37 | 43 | 46 | 16 | 51 | 74 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Campos Basin |
1,216 | 1,798 | 3,398 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Santos Basin |
2,140 | 3,378 | 6,322 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Basins |
40,610 | 50,190 | 54,069 | 121 | 133 | 141 | 27 | 29 | 48 | 12 | 42 | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other S. America |
11,444 | 12,702 | 12,702 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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North America |
376 | 787 | 1,877 | 28 | 52 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Africa |
0 | 3,679 | 6,057 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total |
55,786 | 72,534 | 84,425 | 166 | 208 | 281 | 38 | 46 | 49 | 21 | 59 | 88 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Production Development
In 2016, three new systems came on stream (FPSO Cidade de Maricá and FPSO Cidade de Saquarema in the Lula field and FPSO Cidade de Caraguatatuba in the Lapa field), and we connected 65 new wells (47 production and 18 injection wells) in our production systems.
Over the last six years, we had substantial cost optimizations regarding project development. For instance, we reduced the time required to drill and complete wells in the Santos Basin pre-salt area by more than 50% in 2016, compared to 2010, significantly reducing our capital expenditures per well. In addition, due to the wells high productivity, we have been able to top the capacity of the platforms with fewer wells.
52
Recently Installed Systems
Since 2014, we have installed several major systems in the pre-salt area of the Santos Basin and in the Campos Basin, which helped mitigating the basins natural decline (table below).
Start Up (year) |
Basin | Field/Area | Unit Type |
Production Unit | Crude Oil Nominal Capacity (bbl/d) |
Natural Gas Nominal Capacity (mmcf/d) |
Water Depth (meters) |
Notes | ||||||||||||||||
2016 |
Santos | Lapa | FPSO | Cid. de Caraguataruba | 100,000 | 176.6 | 2,140 | Pre-salt | ||||||||||||||||
2016 |
Santos | Lula Central | FPSO | Cid. de Saquarema | 150,000 | 211.9 | 2,100 | Pre-salt | ||||||||||||||||
2016 |
Santos | Lula Alto | FPSO | Cidade de Maricá | 150,000 | 211.9 | 2,100 | Pre-salt | ||||||||||||||||
2015 |
Santos | Lula | FPSO | Cidade de Itaguaí | 150,000 | 282.5 | 2,240 | Pre-salt | ||||||||||||||||
2015 |
Campos | Papa-TerraModule 1 | TLWP | P-61 | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | 1,180 | Post-salt | ||||||||||||||
2014 |
Campos | RoncadorModule 4 | FPSO | P-62 | 180,000 | 211.9 | 1,600 | Post-Salt | ||||||||||||||||
2014 |
Campos | Parque das Baleias | FPSO | P-58 | 180,000 | 211.9 | 1,399 | Both | ||||||||||||||||
2014 |
Santos | Iracema Sul | FPSO | Cid. de Mangaratiba | 150,000 | 282.5 | 2,220 | Pre-salt | ||||||||||||||||
2014 |
Santos | Sapinhoá Norte | FPSO | Cidade de Ilhabela | 150,000 | 211.9 | 2,140 | Pre-salt |
(1) | P-61 production is processed by the FPSO P-63, which came onstream in 2013, with 140 Mbbl/d. |
Main systems to be installed from 2017 to 2019
We currently have 10 major systems to be installed from 2017 to 2019. The Lula and Búzios fields will be particularly important to support our production growth. Production from these fields will be brought online through 7 FPSOs. Moreover, we will install a new post-salt unit in the Tartaruga Verde Field by 2017. The table below lists our upcoming system start-ups.
Projected Start Up (year) |
Basin | Field/Area | Unit Type |
Crude Oil Nominal Capacity (bbl/d) |
Natural Gas Nominal Capacity (mmcf/d) |
Water Depth (meters) |
E&P Regime | |||||||||||||
2017 |
Santos | Lula Sul | FPSO | 150,000 | 211.9 | 2,100 | Pre-salt Concession | |||||||||||||
2017 |
Campos | Tartaruga Verde | FPSO | 150,000 | 176.6 | 765 | Post-salt Concession | |||||||||||||
2017 |
Santos | Lula Norte | FPSO | 150,000 | 211.9 | 2,100 | Pre-salt Concession | |||||||||||||
2018 |
Santos | Lula Extremo Sul | FPSO | 150,000 | 211.9 | 2,100 | Pre-salt Concession | |||||||||||||
2018 |
Santos | Búzios 3 | FPSO | 150,000 | 247.2 | 2,100 | Assignment Agreement | |||||||||||||
2018 |
Santos | Búzios 1 | FPSO | 150,000 | 247.2 | 2,100 | Assignment Agreement | |||||||||||||
2018 |
Santos | Búzios 2 | FPSO | 150,000 | 247.2 | 2,100 | Assignment Agreement | |||||||||||||
2018 |
Santos | Berbigão | FPSO | 150,000 | 211.9 | 2,100 | Pre-salt Concession | |||||||||||||
2019 |
Santos | Atapu 1 | FPSO | 150,000 | 211.9 | 2,100 | Assignment Agreement | |||||||||||||
2019 |
Santos | Búzios 4 | FPSO | 150,000 | 211.9 | 2,100 | Assignment Agreement |
Critical Resources in Exploration and Production
We seek to develop and retain the critical resources that are necessary to meet our production targets. Drilling rigs are an important resource for our exploration and production operations and lead time is required when fleet expansion is needed. When we discovered the pre-salt reservoirs, in 2006, our activities as operators were constrained by a lack of rigs, but our subsequent efforts to lease additional rigs have eliminated this constraint. Whereas in 2008 we only had three rigs capable of drilling in waters with depth greater than 2,000 meters (6,560 feet), we had 26 as of December 31, 2016 (see table below). We believe that we now have sufficient rigs to meet our production targets, and we will continue to evaluate our drilling requirements and will adjust our fleet size as needed. Likewise, in order to achieve our production goals, we must secure a number of specialized vessels (such as PLSV) to connect wells to production systems.
53
Since 2015, weve been adjusting our fleet to our project portfolio. In 2016, our specialized vessels were sufficient to meet our needs.
Drilling Units in Use by Exploration and Production on December 31 of Each Year |
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2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Leased | Owned | Leased | Owned | Leased | Owned | |||||||||||||||||||
Brazil |
31 | 10 | 50 | 14 | 71 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||
Onshore |
1 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
Offshore, by water depth (WD) |
30 | 6 | 40 | 6 | 55 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
Jack-up rigs |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Floating rigs: |
30 | 4 | 40 | 4 | 55 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
500 to 999 meters WD |
1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
1000 to 1999 meters WD |
3 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
2000 to 3200 meters WD |
26 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Outside Brazil |
4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Onshore |
4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Offshore |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Worldwide |
35 | 10 | 59 | 14 | 79 | 16 |
Reserves
According to SEC technical criteria for booking proved reserves, as of December 31, 2016, our worldwide net proved oil, condensate and natural gas reserves, including synthetic oil and gas, reached 9.7 bnboe, an 8% reduction compared to our proved reserves of 10.5 bnboe as of December 31, 2015, as shown in the table below. This variation was mainly due to natural depletion of oil fields production.
Proved Reserves(1) | Oil (mmbbl) | Gas (bcf) | Total (mmboe) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brazil |
8,069.8 | 8,551.1 | 10,858.8 | 8,403.2 | 9,597.0 | 11,180.9 | 9,470.3 | 10,150.6 | 12,722.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Campos basin |
4,097.1 | 4,778.8 | 7,202.8 | 2,767.2 | 3,407.5 | 4,578.4 | 4,558.3 | 5,346.7 | 7,965.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Santos basin |
3,576.2 | 3,216.0 | 2,917.4 | 4,169.1 | 4,579.7 | 4,339.7 | 4,271.1 | 3,979.3 | 3,640.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other basins |
396.4 | 556.3 | 738.6 | 1,466.9 | 1,609.8 | 2,262.8 | 640.9 | 824.6 | 1,115.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other S. America(2) |
0.8 | 66.9 | 84.6 | 113.9 | 697.4 | 758.3 | 19.8 | 183.1 | 211.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North America |
96.4 | 90.6 | 120.1 | 87.2 | 138.5 | 180.0 | 111.0 | 113.7 | 150.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Africa |
69.0 | 65.8 | 54.1 | 12.5 | 16.6 | 19.3 | 71.1 | 68.6 | 57.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total |
8,236.1 | 8,774.4 | 11,117.6 | 8,616.8 | 10,449.5 | 12,138.5 | 9,672.2 | 10,515.9 | 13,140.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(1) | Includes synthetic oil and gas |
(2) | In the case of Bolivia, the countrys Constitution prohibits concessionaires from recording reserves |
In 2016, we incorporated 103 mmboe of proved reserves from extensions and discoveries in Brazil (Santos Basin), and we increased 131 mmboe of our proved reserves due to revisions of previous estimates and due to new production development well drilling and better reservoir response in onshore and offshore post-salt fields, in Brazil and in the USA, and in the pre-salt, as a result of positive answers from the reservoirs, recovery mechanisms (water injection) and operating efficiency of production systems in operation, as well as the growing drilling activities and tie-back activities, in the Santos and Campos Basin. We reduced 169 mmboe of our proved reserves due to sales of minerals in situ and increased 16 mmboe in our proved reserves due to purchases of minerals in situ, resulting in a net effect of a decrease of 153 mmboe in our proved reserves. The net result of these additions and dispositions, excluding production, was an increase of 81 mmboe to our proved reserves in 2016. Considering a production of 925 mmboe in 2016, our net decrease of proved reserves was 844 mmboe. This volume production does not take into account the production of EWTs in exploratory blocks in Brazil, and production in Bolivia, since the Bolivian Constitution prohibits the disclosure and registration of its reserves. For further information on our reserves, see Item 4. Information on the CompanyAdditional Reserves and Production Information and Supplementary Information on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in our consolidated audited financial statements.
54
The following table summarizes the reserves variations in the last three years, in terms of oil equivalents, including synthetic oil and gas.
Proved reserves (million barrels of oil equivalent) |
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Proved reserves, beginning of year |
10,516 | 13,141 | 13,134 | |||||||||
Discoveries and extensions |
103 | 494 | 316 | |||||||||
Improved recovery |
0 | 22 | 2 | |||||||||
Revisions of previous estimates |
131 | (2,186 | ) | 718 | ||||||||
Sales of minerals in situ |
(169 | ) | (22 | ) | (163 | ) | ||||||
Purchases of minerals in situ |
16 | 0 | 31 | |||||||||
Production |
(925 | ) | (932 | ) | (898 | ) | ||||||
Proved Reserves, end of year |
9,672 | 10,516 | 13,141 |
We recorded in 2016 a reserve replacement ratio (RRR) of 25%, disregarding the effects of divestments carried out in 2016. We also recorded a reserves-to-production ratio (R/P) of 10.5 years and a development ratio (DR), which is the ratio between developed proved reserves and total proved reserves, of 54.1%.
Refining, Transportation and Marketing
Refining, Transportation and Marketing Key Statistics |
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2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
(US$ million) | ||||||||||||
Refining, Transportation and Marketing: |
||||||||||||
Sales revenues |
62,588 | 74,321 | 114,431 | |||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
8,644 | 8,459 | (23,527 | ) | ||||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
35,515 | 33,032 | 50,273 | |||||||||
Capital expenditures and investments |
1,168 | 2,534 | 7,882 |
We are one of the worlds largest refiners. We own and operate 13 refineries in Brazil, with a total net crude distillation capacity of 2,176 mbbl/d. As of December 31, 2016, we operated substantially all of Brazils total refining capacity. We supplied almost all of the refined product needs of third-party wholesalers, exporters and petrochemical companies, in addition to the needs of our Distribution segment. We operate a large and complex infrastructure of pipelines, terminals and a shipping fleet to transport oil products and crude oil to domestic and export markets. Most of our refineries are located near our crude oil pipelines, storage facilities, refined product pipelines and major petrochemical facilities, facilitating access to crude oil supplies and end-users.
Our Refining, Transportation and Marketing segment also includes (i) petrochemical operations that add value to the hydrocarbons we produce, (ii) extraction and processing of shale and (iii) international refining activities.
Refining Capacity in Brazil
Our crude distillation capacity in Brazil as of December 31, 2016, was 2,176 mbbl/d and our average throughput during 2016 was 1,819 mbbl/d. We have also gradually increased the production of low sulfur diesel, from 201 mbbl/d in 2015 to 228 mbbl/d in 2016, meeting the market demand for a more environmentally friendly transportation fuel.
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The following table shows the installed capacity of our Brazilian refineries as of December 31, 2016, and the average daily throughputs of our refineries in Brazil in 2016, 2015 and 2014.
Capacity and Average Throughput of Refineries | ||||||||||||||||||
Name (Alternative Name) |
Location | Crude Distillation Capacity at December 31, 2016 |
Average Throughput* | |||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||
(mbbl/d) | (mbbl/d) | |||||||||||||||||
LUBNOR |
Fortaleza (CE) | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | |||||||||||||
RECAP (Capuava) |
Capuava (SP) | 53 | 54 | 40 | 54 | |||||||||||||
REDUC (Duque de Caxias) |
Duque de Caxias (RJ) | 239 | 194 | 235 | 271 | |||||||||||||
REFAP (Alberto Pasqualini) |
Canoas (RS) | 201 | 148 | 174 | 192 | |||||||||||||
REGAP (Gabriel Passos) |
Betim (MG) | 157 | 150 | 152 | 158 | |||||||||||||
REMAN (Isaac Sabbá) |
Manaus (AM) | 46 | 34 | 38 | 44 | |||||||||||||
REPAR (Presidente Getúlio Vargas) |
Araucária (PR) | 208 | 167 | 197 | 204 | |||||||||||||
REPLAN (Paulínia) |
Paulinia (SP) | 415 | 331 | 391 | 408 | |||||||||||||
REVAP (Henrique Lage) |
São Jose dos Campos (SP) | 252 | 217 | 249 | 262 | |||||||||||||
RLAM (Landulpho Alves) |
Mataripe (BA) | 315 | 218 | 248 | 287 | |||||||||||||
RPBC (Presidente Bernardes) |
Cubatão (SP) | 170 | 142 | 157 | 177 | |||||||||||||
RPCC (Potiguar Clara Camarão) |
Guamaré (RN) | 38 | 33 | 34 | 38 | |||||||||||||
RNEST (Abreu e Lima) |
Ipojuca (PE) | 74 | 75 | 53 | 3 | |||||||||||||
Average crude oil throughput |
2,176 | 1,772 | 1,936 | 2,065 | ||||||||||||||
Average NGL throughput |
| 47 | 40 | 41 | ||||||||||||||
Average throughput |
| 1,819 | 1,976 | 2,106 |
* | Considers oil and NGLs processing (fresh feedstock) |
Refinery Investments
We initiated in the last few years the construction of two new refineriesAbreu e Lima RefineryRNEST in northeastern Brazil and Petrochemical Complex of Rio de Janeiro (Complexo Petroquímico do Rio de JaneiroCOMPERJ) to process our domestically produced heavy oil for oil products that were most in demand in the Brazilian market and with growing shortage.
The first refining unit of RNEST began its operations in December 2014. Designed to process 115 mbbl/d of crude oil into low sulfur diesel (10 ppm) and other products, this unit started operating with a partial capacity of 74 mbbl/d and since January 2016 it has been authorized to process up to 100 mbbl/d of crude oil. Reaching full capacity for the unit will require the completion of a sulfur emissions reduction unit (SNOX), which we expect will be completed in 2018. Construction of the second refining unit of RNEST is inclued in our 2017-2021 Plan, despite our continuous efforts to seek partnerships for this construction.
With respect to COMPERJ, we are currently building a business model to restart the construction of this project, which includes partnerships with parties willing to fund and complete the construction of its first refining unit, according to our 2017-2021 Plan. To support gas processing from the pre-salt areas, in 2017, we started the execution of a bidding plan to complete the gas plant and its utilities. The projects for the second refining unit and the lubricants unit were cancelled.
56
We recognized impairment losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 of US$1.2 billion on the RNEST and COMPERJ refining assets. A loss of US$0.8 billion was recognized for the second refining unit in RNEST, mainly attributable to the use of a higher discount rate and a delay in expected future cash inflows to 2023 due to the postponement of the RNEST project. The completion of this project is subject to our own capital resources, as set forth in our 2017-2021 Plan. Despite the postponement of the beginning of operations of its first refining unit until December 2020, the construction of COMPERJs first refining unit facilities that will also support the natural gas processing plant (UPGN) are still in progress. These facilities are part of the infrastructure for transporting and processing natural gas from the pre-salt layer in the Santos Basin. Due to the interdependence between such infrastructure and COMPERJs first refining unit, we recognized additional impairment charges, amounting US$0.4 billion of impairment losses in 2016.
We previously recognized impairment losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 of US$1.35 billion with respect to COMPERJ due to the use of a higher discount rate (reflecting an increase in Brazils risk premium) and the delay in expected future cash inflows resulting from the further postponement of the project. For further information, see Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements and Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsCritical Accounting Policies and EstimatesImpairment Testing of Refining Assets. We previously recognized impairment losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 of US$11.7 billion with respect to COMPERJ and RNEST and of US$0.1 billion with respect to the Nansei Sekiyu K.K. refinery in Okinawa.
In addition to constructing new refineries, over the past ten years, we made substantial investments in our existing refineries to increase our capacity to economically process heavier Brazilian crude oil, improve the quality of our oil products to meet stricter regulatory standards, modernize our refineries, and reduce the environmental impact of our refining operations. These investments in our existing refineries have been largely completed.
Our LPG distribution businessLiquigas Distribuidoraheld a 21.6% market share and ranked second in LPG sales in Brazil in 2016, according to the ANP. In November 2016, we signed a contract for the sale of Liquigás Distribuidora S.A. to Companhia Ultragaz S.A., a subsidiary of Ultrapar Participações.
Domestic Output of Oil Products and Domestic Sales Volumes
The following tables summarize our domestic output of oil products and sales by product for the last three years.
Domestic Output of Oil Products: Refining and marketing operations, mbbl/d(1) |
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2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Diesel |
775 | 848 | 853 | |||||||||
Gasoline |
444 | 435 | 494 | |||||||||
Fuel oil |
196 | 250 | 286 | |||||||||
Naphtha |
54 | 78 | 85 | |||||||||
LPG |
125 | 127 | 130 | |||||||||
Jet fuel |
100 | 98 | 105 | |||||||||
Others |
193 | 190 | 217 | |||||||||
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Total domestic output of oil products |
1,887 | 2,026 | 2,170 | |||||||||
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Installed capacity(2) |
2,176 | 2,176 | 2,176 | |||||||||
Crude distillation utilization (%)(3) |
81 | 89 | 98 | |||||||||
Domestic crude oil as % of total feedstock processed |
92 | 86 | 82 |
(1) | Output volumes are larger than throughput volumes as a result of gains during the refining process. |
(2) | Installed capacity as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. |
(3) | Crude distillation utilization considers average installed capacity as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. |
57
Our total domestic output of oil products decreased to 1,887 mbbl/d in 2016 from 2,026 mbbl/d in 2015, as a result of lower demand for oil products in the domestic market and maintenance stoppages. In 2016, diesel represented 41% of our domestic output of oil products, as compared to 42% in 2015 and there was a higher participation of domestic crude oil in our total domestic feedstock processed (92% as compared to 86% in 2015.)
Domestic Sales Volumes and Exports from Brazil, mbbl/d | ||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||
Diesel |
780 | 923 | 1,001 | |||
Gasoline |
545 | 553 | 620 | |||
Fuel oil |
67 | 104 | 119 | |||
Naphtha |
151 | 133 | 163 | |||
LPG |
234 | 232 | 235 | |||
Jet fuel |
101 | 110 | 110 | |||
Others |
186 | 179 | 210 | |||
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| ||||
Total oil products |
2,064 | 2,234 | 2,458 | |||
|
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| ||||
Ethanol, nitrogen fertilizers, renewables and other products |
112 | 123 | 99 | |||
Natural gas |
333 | 432 | 446 | |||
|
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| ||||
Total domestic market |
2,509 | 2,789 | 3,003 | |||
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Exports |
554 | 510 | 393 | |||
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| ||||
Total domestic market and exports |
3,063 | 3,299 | 3,396 | |||
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|
The Brazilian domestic market grew rapidly from 2010 to 2014, in parallel with Brazils economic expansion and the increase of average income, increasing by an average of 5.6%. In the last two years, as a result of the Brazilian economic slowdown, the domestic growth rate in consumption of oil products, particularly diesel, decreased as compared to the higher rates of growth experienced in prior years.
Our total domestic sales volumes for oil products were 2,064 mbbl/d in 2016, a reduction of 8% compared to 2015. In 2016, our sales of oil products declined as a result of a 3.6% reduction in the Brazilian GDP, an increase in imports of diesel and gasoline from other participants in the Brazilian market, but the decrease in gasoline sales was mitigated by the loss of competitiveness of hydrous ethanol in 2016. Fuel oil sales fell due to reduced thermoelectric consumption, because of weak GDP, the expansion of wind power generation and the increase of hydroelectric power generation by Northern utilities. Jet fuel sales declined due to increased measures adopted by airlines to optimize routes, as a way to compensate for the strong decline of trips demands caused by economic crises.
Imports and Exports
Our import and export of oil products depend on our refinery output and Brazilian demand levels. Much of the crude oil we produce in Brazil is intermediate. We import some light crude to balance the slate for our refineries, and export mainly intermediate crude oil from our production in Brazil. We also continue to import oil products to balance any shortfall between production from our Brazilian refineries and the market demand for each product and to take advantage of the spread between refining crude oil in Brazil and importing oil products. Due to the domestic market retraction and to our lower market share in 2016, our imports levels were lower than in former years.
We export oil products that our refineries produce in excess of Brazilian market demand, which is largely fuel oil.
58
The table below shows our exports and imports of crude oil and oil products in 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Exports and Imports of Crude Oil and Oil Products, mbbl/d |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Exports |
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Crude oil |
387 | 360 | 232 | |||||||||
Fuel oil (including bunker fuel) |
119 | 125 | 128 | |||||||||
Gasoline |
10 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||
Others |
26 | 21 | 30 | |||||||||
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Total exports |
542 | 509 | 390 | |||||||||
|
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Imports |
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Crude oil |
136 | 277 | 392 | |||||||||
Diesel |
13 | 78 | 185 | |||||||||
LPG |
72 | 67 | 70 | |||||||||
Gasoline |
32 | 28 | 41 | |||||||||
Naphtha |
105 | 51 | 88 | |||||||||
Others |
16 | 32 | 29 | |||||||||
|
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Total imports |
374 | 533 | 805 | |||||||||
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Delivery Commitments
We sell crude oil through long-term and spot-market contracts. Our long-term contracts specify the delivery of fixed and determinable quantities, subject to a price negotiation with third parties on a delivery-by-delivery basis. We are committed through long-term contracts to deliver a total of approximately 333 mbbl/d of crude oil in 2017. We believe our domestic proved reserves will be sufficient to allow us to continue to deliver all contracted volumes. For 2017, approximately 83% of our domestic exported crude oil will be committed to meeting our contractual delivery commitments to third parties.
Logistics and Infrastructure for Oil and Oil Products
We own and operate an extensive network of crude oil and oil product pipelines in Brazil that connect our terminals, refineries and other primary distribution points. As of December 31, 2016, our onshore and offshore, crude oil and oil products pipelines extended over 7,719 km (4,796 miles). We operate 27 marine storage terminals and 20 other tank farms with nominal aggregate storage capacity of 64,6 mmbbl. Our marine terminals handle an average of 8,981 tankers and oil barges annually.
We operate a fleet of owned and chartered vessels. These provide shuttle services between our producing basins offshore Brazil and the Brazilian mainland, and shipping to other parts of South America and internationally. We are increasing our fleet of owned vessels to replace older vessels and decrease our dependency on chartered vessels. Upgrades will include replacing vessels nearing the end of their 25-year useful life. Our long-term strategy continues to focus on the flexibility afforded by operating a combination of owned and chartered vessels.
Also, one new oil tanker and three new LPG carriers were delivered to Transpetro in 2016. We plan to have another three vessels delivered to us during 2017 and up to 9 vessels in the following three years, all of which will be built in Brazilian shipyards. In 2016, as a result of our 2015-2019 business and management plan (2015-2019 Plan), as well as issues with our counter-parties under many of the contracts for the construction or delivery of vessels, we canceled purchase contracts for the delivery of 7 additional vessels.
59
The table below shows our operating fleet and vessels under contract as of December 31, 2016.
Owned and Chartered Vessels in Operation and Under Construction Contracts at December 31, 2016 |
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In Operation | Under Contract/Construction | |||||||||||||||
Number | Tons Deadweight Capacity |
Number | Tons Deadweight Capacity |
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Owned fleet: |
||||||||||||||||
Tankers |
48 | 4,512,835 | 10 | 1,107,600 | ||||||||||||
LPG tankers |
8 | 51,534 | 2 | 6,000 | ||||||||||||
Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) |
0 | | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
56 | 4,564,369 | 12 | 1,113,600 | ||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Chartered vessels: |
||||||||||||||||
Tankers |
113 | 12,964,456 | | | ||||||||||||
LPG tankers |
15 | 299,820 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
128 | 13,264,276 | | | ||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
An increase in the number of chartered vessels (tankers) in 2016 to 113 (as compared to 105 as of December 31, 2015) is mainly attributable to the increase of total cargo transportation between maritime terminals in Brazil.
We recognized impairment losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 of US$0.2 billion on transportations assets, mainly in the third quarter of 2016, relating to the removal of a group of support vessels of Hidrovias project from the Transportation CGU, due to the postponements and suspension of construction projects and the use of a higher discount rate. In the last quarter of 2016, additional impairment charges were accounted for, due to the commencement of the construction on 5 vessels after securing the projects funding, which avoided potential future claims for breach of contracts, and further the higher discount rate.
Petrochemicals
Our petrochemical operations provide an outlet for our growing production volumes of gas and other refined products, which increase their value and provide substitute for products that are otherwise imported. Our new strategy is to carry out divestments in subsidiaries, joint ventures, joint operations and associated companies, but keeping technological competencies in areas with development potential.
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We engage in our petrochemical operations through the following subsidiaries, joint ventures, joint operations and associated companies:
mmt/y (nominal capacity) |
Petrobras interest (%) |
|||||||
Braskem: |
36.20 | |||||||
Ethylene |
3.95 | |||||||
Polyethylene |
3.05 | |||||||
Polypropylene |
3.99 | |||||||
DETEN Química S.A.: |
27.88 | |||||||
LAB(1) |
0.22 | |||||||
LABSA(1) |
0.12 | |||||||
METANOR S.A./COPENOR S.A.(2): |
34.54 | |||||||
Methanol(4) |
0.08 | |||||||
Formaldehyde |
0.09 | |||||||
Hexamine |
0.01 | |||||||
FCC Fábrica Carioca de Catalisadores S.A.: |
50.00 | |||||||
Catalysts |
0.04 | |||||||
Additives |
0.01 | |||||||
PETROQUÍMICASUAPE COMPLEX(3): |
100.00 | |||||||
Purified Terephthalic Acid PTA |
0.70 | |||||||
Polyethylene TerephthalatePET |
0.45 | |||||||
Polymer and polyester filament textiles |
0.24 | |||||||
PETROCOQUE S.A.: |
50.00 | |||||||
Calcined petroleum coke |
0.50 |
(1) | Feedstock for the production of biodegradable detergents. |
(2) | Copernor S.A. is a Metanor S.A. subsidiary. |
(3) | The PTA unit started operations in January 2013 and the PET unit started operations in August 2014. |
(4) | The company decided to stop the production of methanol in 2016. |
In July, our board of directors approved exclusive negotiations with the company Alpek, S.A.B. de C.V. (Alpek), for the sale of our stake in Suape Petrochemical Complex, which includes Companhia Petroquímica de Pernambuco (Petroquímica Suape) and Companhia Integrada Têxtil de Pernambuco (Citepe). In the end of December, our board of directors approved the execution of the agreement for the sale of Suape Petrochemical Complex and Citepe to Grupo Petrotemex S.A. de C.V. and Dak Americas Exterior, S.L, both subsidiaries of Alpek. In March 2017, the transaction was approved at a shareholders meeting.The total sale value was US$ 385 million, to be paid in reais on the closing date for the transaction.
We recognized impairment losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 of US$0.6 billion with respect to the Suape Petrochemical Complex, mainly attributable to lower market projections and the appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar. Following the disposal of Suape Petrochemical Complex in December 2016, we recognized an additional impairment charge of US$0.4 billion, due to the lower exit price of these investments when compared to their carrying amount adjusted by the debt to be settled by us as part of the closing of such transaction.
We previously recognized impairment losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 of US$0.2 billion with respect to the Suape Petrochemical Complex due to changes in market and price assumptions resulting from a decrease in economic activity in Brazil, a reduction in the spread for petrochemical products in the international market and the use of a higher discount rate (reflecting an increase in Brazils risk premium). For further information, see Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
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Refining Capacity Abroad
Our international crude distillation capacity as of December 31, 2016 was 200 mbbl/d and the utilization factor for our international consolidated refining facilities was 65%.
The following table shows the installed capacity of our international refineries as of December 31, 2016, and the average daily throughputs in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Capacity and Average Throughput of Refineries |
||||||||||||||||||||
Name (Alternative Name) |
Location | Crude Distillation Capacity at December 31, 2016 |
Average Throughput(1) | |||||||||||||||||
2016(2) | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||
(mbbl/d) | (mbbl/d) | |||||||||||||||||||
Pasadena Refining System Inc. |
Texas (USA) | 100 | 104.2 | 99.5 | 100.3 | |||||||||||||||
Nansei Sekiyu Kabushiki Kaisha |
Okinawa (JP) | 100 | | 10.2 | 35.9 | |||||||||||||||
Ricardo Eliçabe Refinery |
Bahía Blanca (AR) | (3) | 15.3 | 28.7 | 27.2 | |||||||||||||||
Total average crude oil throughput |
200 | 119.4 | 132.8 | 158.9 | ||||||||||||||||
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Average external intermediate throughput |
6.5 | 5.6 | 4.5 | |||||||||||||||||
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|
|||||||||||||
Total average throughput |
125.9 | 138.4 | 163.4 | |||||||||||||||||
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|
|
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|
(1) | Consider oil (fresh feedstock) and external processed intermediate oil products. |
(2) | For the year 2016 we report the average crude oil throughput separately from the average external intermediate throughput. |
(2) | Crude distillation capacity of 30.5 mbbl/d and average throughput of Bahía Blanca refinery until July 2016. |
The following table shows the total average output of oil products of our international refineries in 2016, 2015 and 2014.
International Average Output of Oil Products |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
(mbbl/d) | ||||||||||||
Total average output |
128 | 149 | 175 | |||||||||
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|
We also participate in the refining sector in other South American countries and in North America. See below our international refining activities by region:
South America
We conducted refining and transportation activities in Argentina through our interest in PESA until July 2016, when we sold our entire participation in PESA, indirectly owned through Petrobras Participaciones S.L. (PPSL), to Pampa Energía.
We used to own the Bahia Blanca Refinery, with a capacity of 30.5 mbbl/d, and used to own interests in the Refinor refinery in Campo Duran and in two petrochemical plants in Puerto General San Martín and Zárate.
North America
In the United States, we own 100% of the Pasadena Refining System Inc., and 100% of its related trading company, PRSI Trading, LLC.
62
Asia
In Japan, we operated the Nansei Sekiyu Kabushiki Kaisha refinery in Okinawa until the first quarter of 2015. In April 2015, we decided to begin winding down the operations of this refinery and the refinery stopped processing crude oil. We continued its activities until March 2016. In December, we closed the sale of 100% of the shares in Nansei Sekiyu (NSS) to Taiyo Oil Company. The operation was completed with the payment of US$165 million made on December 28, 2016 by Taiyo.
Sales Volumes Abroad
Sales Volumes Abroad, mbbl/d |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
International Sales |
418 | 546 | 571 | |||||||||
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|
Distribution Key Statistics |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
(US$ million) | ||||||||||||
Sales revenues |
27,927 | 33,406 | 46,893 | |||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
96 | (219 | ) | 860 | ||||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
1,936 | 1,868 | 2,685 | |||||||||
Capital expenditures and investments |
139 | 255 | 487 |
Domestic Distribution
We are Brazils leading oil products distributor, operating through our own retail network, through our own wholesale channels, and by supplying other fuel wholesalers and retailers. Our Distribution segment sells oil products that are primarily produced by our Refining, Transportation and Marketing segment, or RTM, and works to expand the domestic market for these oil products and for other fuels, including LPG, natural gas, ethanol and biodiesel.
The primary focus of our Distribution segment is to be the benchmark in the distribution of oil products and biofuels in Brazil, by innovating and providing value to our business, while promoting safe operations and environmental and social responsibility, strengthening the Petrobras brand.
We supply and operate Petrobras Distribuidora, which accounts for 31.1% of the total Brazilian retail and wholesale distribution market. Petrobras Distribuidora distributes oil products, ethanol, biodiesel and natural gas to retail, commercial and industrial customers. In 2016, Petrobras Distribuidora sold the equivalent of 784.6 mbbl/d of oil products and other fuels to wholesale and retail customers, of which the largest portion (40.3%) was diesel.
At December 31, 2016, our Petrobras Distribuidora branded service station network was Brazils leading retail marketer, with 8,176 service stations, or 20% of the stations in Brazil. Petrobras Distribuidora owned and franchised stations that represented 25.4% of Brazils retail sales of diesel, gasoline, ethanol, vehicular natural gas and lubricants in 2016.
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Most Petrobras Distribuidora service stations are owned by franchisees that use the Petrobras Distribuidora brand name under license and purchase exclusively from us; we also provide franchisees with technical support, training and advertising. We own 632 of the Petrobras Distribuidora service stations and are required by law to subcontract the operation of these owned stations to third parties. We believe that our market share position is supported by a strong Petrobras Distribuidora brand image and by the remodeling of service stations and addition of lubrication centers and convenience stores.
Our wholesale distribution of oil products and biofuels under the Petrobras Distribuidora brand to commercial and industrial customers accounts for 46.9% of the total Brazilian wholesale market. Our customers include aviation, transportation and industrial companies, as well as utilities and government entities.
Distribution Abroad
We also participate in the retail sector in other South American countries. See below our international distribution activities by region:
South America
We conduct distribution activities in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay:
| In Argentina, through PESA, our operations included 266 retail service stations until July of 2016, when we sold our entire participation in PESA; |
| In Chile, our operations included 281 service stations, the distribution and sales of fuel at airports and a lubricant plant. In July of 2016, we signed with Southern Cross Group (SCG) a contract for the sale of our entire interest in distribution in Chile. We also signed a temporary brand licensing agreement through which SCG will operate under our brand; |
| In Colombia, our operations include 114 service stations and a lubricant plant; |
| In Paraguay, our operations include 186 service stations, the distribution and sales of fuel at three airports and an LPG refueling plant; and |
| In Uruguay, we have downstream operations in the country, including 88 service stations. |
Gas and Power Key Statistics |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
(US$ million) | ||||||||||||
Gas and Power: |
||||||||||||
Sales revenues |
9,401 | 13,145 | 18,373 | |||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
1,252 | 518 | (466 | ) | ||||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
13,094 | 14,674 | 22,237 | |||||||||
Capital expenditures and investments |
717 | 793 | 2,571 |
Our Gas and Power segment comprises gas transmission and distribution, LNG regasification, the manufacture of nitrogen-based fertilizers, gas-fired and flex-fuel power generation, and power generation from renewable sources, including solar and wind sources.
64
The primary focus of our Gas and Power segment is to:
| Monetize our natural gas resources; |
| Assure reliability and profitability in the supply of natural gas; and |
| Consolidate our electric energy business, exploring synergies between our natural gas supply and power generation capacities. |
Domestic Gas and Power
For more than two decades, we have actively worked to simultaneously develop Brazils natural gas reserves and develop important infrastructure in order to assure flexibility and reliability in the supply of natural gas. As a result of this multi-year development program, we now have an integrated system centered around two main interlinked pipeline networks, a gas pipeline connection with Bolivia and an isolated pipeline in the northern region of Brazil (all together spanning over 9,190 km). This network allows us to deliver to our customers natural gas processed in our gas facilities arriving from our onshore and offshore natural gas producing fields, mainly from Santos, Campos and Espírito Santo Basins, as well as the natural gas from our three LNG terminals, and from Bolivia.
Natural Gas
Our principal markets for natural gas are:
| Industrial, commercial and retail customers; |
| Thermoelectric generation; and |
| Consumption by our refineries and fertilizer plants. |
The table below shows the sources of our natural gas supply, our sales and internal consumption of natural gas, and revenues in our local gas distribution operations for each of the past three years.
Supply and Sales of Natural Gas in Brazil, mmm3/d |
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2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Sources of natural gas supply |
||||||||||||
Domestic production |
44.0 | 44.9 | 43.2 | |||||||||
Imported from Bolivia |
28.4 | 32.1 | 32.9 | |||||||||
LNG |
3.8 | 18.0 | 20.0 | |||||||||
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Total natural gas supply |
76.2 | 95.0 | 96.1 | |||||||||
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Sales of natural gas |
||||||||||||
Sales to local gas distribution companies(1) |
34.8 | 37.5 | 38.9 | |||||||||
Sales to gas-fired power plants |
18.0 | 31.1 | 31.6 | |||||||||
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|
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Total sales of natural gas |
52.8 | 68.6 | 70.5 | |||||||||
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|
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Internal consumption (refineries, fertilizer and gas-fired power plants)(2) |
23.4 | 26.4 | 25.6 | |||||||||
Revenues (US$ billion)(3) |
6.4 | 8.3 | 9.8 |
(1) | Includes sales to local gas distribution companies in which we have an equity interest. |
(2) | Includes gas used in the transport system. |
(3) | Includes natural gas sales revenues from the Natural Gas segment to other operating segments, service and other revenues from natural gas companies. |
65
Our volume of natural gas sales to industrial, gas-fired electric power generation, commercial and retail customers in 2016 was 52.8 mmm3/d, representing a decrease of 23% compared to 2015. This decrease is attributable to the reduction of our industrial activities from 2015 to 2016 and to the improvement of hydroelectric plant reservoirs due to the increased hydrological inflow, stable electric power consumption and increased wind and hydro nominal power generation capacity, reducing the consumption of natural gas by power plants. Natural gas consumption by refineries and fertilizer plants only increased by 6.4%.
Currently, our main focus is to provide transportation and processing solutions for our planned natural gas production from the pre-salt fields. In 2017, we plan to continue to invest in (i) the construction of one gas offshore export pipelines connecting our pre-salt natural gas producing fields to processing plant in the city of Itaboraí; and (ii) the development of a natural gas processing plant with a capacity of 742 mmcf/d (21 mmm3/d), located at Itaboraí, also associated with the pre-salt reservoirs in the Santos Basin. The Cabiúnas Terminal expansion became fully operational in March 2016 and natural gas processing plant in Itaboraí is scheduled to begin operations by 2020.
We also own and operate three LNG flexible terminals using three FSRUs (Floating Storage and Regasification Units), one in Guanabara Bay (State of Rio de Janeiro) with a send-out capacity of 706 mmcf/d (20 mmm3/d), another in Pecém (State of Ceará) in Northeastern Brazil with a send-out capacity of 247 mmcf/d (7 mmm3/d) and the last one located in the Todos os Santos Bay (State of Bahia), with a send-out capacity of 494 mmcf/d (14 mmm3/d).
In 2016, we imported 26 LNG cargos in Brazil, as compared to 79 in 2015. In addition, in 2016, we kept our commercial activities primarily abroad, with 19 trading operations overseas (including 9 reloads from Brazil).
We also own and operate four natural gas processing facilities. Two of them, Sul Capixaba and Cacimbas, located in the State of Espírito Santo, have the capacity to process 2.5 mmm3/d and 16 mmm3/d of natural gas, respectively, and are designated to process natural gas from the Campos Basin and from the Espírito Santo Basin. Caraguatatuba plant, located in the State of São Paulo, has the capacity to process 20 mmm3/d of natural gas, and is designated to process natural gas from the Santos Basin post-salt and pre-salt areas. The TECAB plant, located in State of Rio de Janeiro, has the capacity to process 25 mmm3/d of natural gas from the Campos Basin and the Santos Basin pre-salt.
66
The map below shows our gas pipeline networks, LNG terminals and natural gas processing plants.
We hold stakes in twenty of the twenty seven natural gas distributors in Brazil. Through Gaspetro, we hold interests ranging from 23.5% to 100% in nineteen of these distributors. In addition, we hold 100% stake in Petrobras Distribuidora, which operates in the Espírito Santo state. The three most significant distributors in our portfolio (by volume) are CEG Rio, Bahiagás and Copergás (held through Gaspetro) and their combined averaged gas sales volumes in 2016 amounted to 12.97 mmm3/d, representing 54.07% of our averaged gas sales volumes of our 20 natural gas distributors during 2016.
Long-Term Natural Gas Commitments
When we began construction of the Bolivia-Brazil pipeline in 1996, we entered into a long-term Gas Supply Agreement, or GSA, with the Bolivian state-owned company Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos, or YPFB, to purchase certain minimum volumes of natural gas at prices linked to the international fuel oil price through 2019, after which the agreement may be extended until all contracted volume has been delivered.
67
Our volume obligations under the ship-or-pay arrangements entered into with Gas Transboliviano S.A. (GTB) and Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolívia-Brasil S.A. (TBG) were generally designed to match our gas purchase obligations under the GSA through 2019. The tables below show our contractual commitments under these agreements for the five-year period from 2017 through 2021.
Besides the aforementioned contracts, we also have obligations under the ship-or-pay contracts entered into with Nova Transportadora do Sudeste (NTS) and Transportadora Associada de Gás (TAG) to transport natural gas produced in Brazil and import LNG to gas distribution companies, power plants and oil refineries.
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Purchase commitments to YPFB |
||||||||||||||||||||
Volume obligation (mmm3/d)(1) |
24.06 | 24.06 | 24.06 | 24.06 | 24.06 | |||||||||||||||
Volume obligation (mmcf/d)(1) |
850.00 | 850.00 | 850.00 | 850.00 | 850.00 | |||||||||||||||
Brent crude oil projection (US$)(2) |
48.09 | 55.52 | 67.73 | 71.09 | 71.12 | |||||||||||||||
Estimated payments (US$ million)(3) |
1,043.70 | 1,164.57 | 1,574.32 | 1,700.17 | 1,756.41 | |||||||||||||||
Ship-or-pay contract with GTB |
||||||||||||||||||||
Volume commitment (mmm3/d) |
30.08 | 30.08 | 30.08 | 6.00 | 6.00 | |||||||||||||||
Volume commitment (mmcf/d) |
1,062.26 | 1,062.26 | 1,062.26 | 211.89 | 211.89 | |||||||||||||||
Estimated payments (US$ million)(4)(5) |
113.17 | 113.72 | 114.30 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Ship-or-pay contract with TBG |
||||||||||||||||||||
Volume commitment (mmm3/d)(6) |
35.28 | 35.28 | 35.28 | 17.20 | 17.20 | |||||||||||||||
Volume commitment (mmcf/d) |
1,246.09 | 1,246.09 | 1,246.09 | 607.50 | 607.50 | |||||||||||||||
Estimated payments (US$ million)(4) |
532 | 530 | 533 | 156 | 157 | |||||||||||||||
Ship-or-pay contract with NTS |
||||||||||||||||||||
Volume commitment (mmm3/d) |
158.21 | 158.21 | 158.21 | 158.21 | 158.21 | |||||||||||||||
Volume commitment (mmcf/d) |
5,586.96 | 5,586.96 | 5,586.96 | 5,586.96 | 5,586.96 | |||||||||||||||
Estimated payments (US$ million)(4) |
1,169.53 | 1,143.10 | 1,162.81 | 1,183.21 | 1,197.21 | |||||||||||||||
Ship-or-pay contract with TAG |
||||||||||||||||||||
Volume commitment (mmm3/d) |
64.78 | 64.78 | 64.78 | 64.78 | 64.78 | |||||||||||||||
Volume commitment (mmcf/d) |
2,287.65 | 2,287.65 | 2,287.65 | 2,287.65 | 2,287.65 | |||||||||||||||
Estimated payments (US$ million)(4) |
1,507.78 | 1,473.70 | 1,499.11 | 1,525.41 | 1,543.46 |
(1) | 25.3% of contracted volume supplied by Petrobras Bolivia. |
(2) | Brent crude oil price forecast based on our strategic plan, which is currently under review by our management. |
(3) | Estimated payments are calculated using gas prices expected for each year based on our Brent crude oil price forecast. Gas prices may be adjusted in the future based on contract clauses and amounts of natural gas purchased by Petrobras may vary annually. |
(4) | Amounts calculated based on current prices defined in natural gas transport contracts. |
(5) | No estimated payments from 2020 due to Contract TCO-Bolivia prepayment. |
(6) | Includes ship-or-pay contracts relating to TBGs capacity increase. |
Natural Gas Sales Contracts
We sell our gas primarily to local gas distribution companies and to gas fired plants generally based on standard take-or-pay, long-term supply contracts. This represents 70% of our total sale volumes, and the price formulas under these contracts are mainly indexed to an international fuel oil basket. Additionally, we have a number of sales contracts designed to create flexibility in matching customer demand with our gas supply capabilities. These include flexible and interruptible long-term gas sales contracts.
In 2016, we continued to renegotiate some existing long-term natural gas sales contracts with local distribution companies of natural gas in order to promote adjustments to commercial conditions tailored to specific market demands, concluding in negotiations with seven local distribution companies that represent 29% of the non-thermoelectric natural gas market, with an average price increase of 9%. The renegotiations will continue in 2017 with remaining local distribution companies.
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The table below shows our future gas supply commitments from 2017 to 2021, including sales to both local gas distribution companies and gas-fired power plants:
Future Commitments under Natural Gas Sales Contracts, mmm3/d |
||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
To local gas distribution companies: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Related parties(1) |
16.52 | 15.84 | 15.86 | 9.07 | 8.38 | |||||||||||||||
Third parties |
17.28 | 17.28 | 14.87 | 6.58 | 6.58 | |||||||||||||||
To gas-fired power plants: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Related parties(1) |
6.11 | 4.57 | 8.55 | 2.67 | 2.58 | |||||||||||||||
Third parties |
11.19 | 10.97 | 10.61 | 10.54 | 10.17 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total(2) |
51.09 | 48.65 | 49.89 | 28.86 | 27.17 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Estimated amounts to be invoiced (US$ billion)(3)(4) |
4.22 | 4.09 | 4.52 | 5.16 | 5.86 |
(1) | For purposes of this table, related parties include all local gas distribution companies and power generation plants in which we have an equity interest and third parties refer to those in which we do not have an equity interest. |
(2) | Estimated volumes are based on take or pay agreements in our contracts, expected volumes and contracts under negotiation (including renewals of existing contracts), not maximum sales. |
(3) | Estimates are based on outside sales and do not include internal consumption or transfers. |
(4) | Prices may be adjusted in the future and actual amounts may vary. |
Power
Brazilian electricity needs are mainly supplied by hydroelectric power plants (101,138 MW of installed capacity), which account for 63% of Brazils generation capacity. Hydroelectric power plants are dependent on the annual level of rainfall; in the years where rainfall is abundant, Brazilian hydroelectric power plants will generate more electricity and consequently less generation from thermoelectric power plants will be demanded. The total installed capacity of the Brazilian National Interconnected Power Grid (Sistema Interligado Nacional) in 2016 was 161,344 MW. Of this total, 6,148 MW (or 4%) was available from 20 thermoelectric plants we operate. These plants are designed to supplement power from the hydroelectric power plants.
In 2016, hydroelectric power plants in Brazil generated 46,694 MWavg, which corresponded to 72% of Brazils total electricity needs (64,621 MWavg). Hydroelectric generation capacity is supplemented by other sources of energy (wind, coal, nuclear, fuel oil, diesel oil, natural gas, and others). Total electricity generated by these sources averaged 17,927 MW in 2016, of which our thermoelectric power plants contributed 2,252 MWavg, as compared to 4,646 MWavg in 2015 and 4,761 MWAvg in 2014.
Electricity Sales and Commitments for Future Generation Capacity
Under Brazils power pricing regime, a thermoelectric power plant may sell only electricity that is certified by the MME and which corresponds to a fraction of its installed capacity. This certificate is granted to ensure a constant sale of commercial capacity over the course of years to each power plant, given its role within Brazils system to supplement hydroelectricity power during periods of unfavorable rainfall. The amount of certified capacity for each power plant is determined by its expected capacity to generate energy over time.
The total capacity certified by the MME (garantia física) may be sold through long-term contracts in auctions to power distribution companies (standby availability), sold through bilateral contracts executed with free customers and used to meet the energy needs of our own facilities.
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In exchange for selling this certified capacity, the thermoelectric power plants shall produce energy whenever requested by the national operator (ONS). In addition to a capacity payment, thermoelectric power plants also receive from the Electric Energy Trading Chamber (Câmara de Comercialização de Energia Elétrica, or CCEE) reimbursement for its variable costs (previously declared to MME to calculate its commercial certified capacity) incurred whenever they are requested to generate electricity.
In 2016, the commercial capacity certified by MME for all thermoelectric power plants controlled by us was 4,197 MWavg, although our total generating capacity was 6,148 MWavg. Of the total 4,542 MWavg of commercial capacity available (capacidade comercial disponível or lastro) for sale in 2016, approximately 70% was sold as standby availability in public auctions in the regulated market (compared to 69% in 2015) and approximately 30% was committed under bilateral contracts and self-production (i.e. sales to related parties) (compared to 30% in 2015).
Under the terms of standby availability contracts, we are paid a fixed amount whether or not we generate any power. Additionally, whenever we have to deliver energy under these contracts, we receive an additional payment for the energy delivered that is set on the auction date and is revised monthly or annually based on inflation-adjusted international fuel price indexes.
Our future commitments under bilateral contracts and self-production are of 1,315 MWavg in 2017, 1,280 MWavg in 2018, and 1,232 MWavg in 2019. The agreements expire gradually, with the last contract expiring in 2028. As existing bilateral contracts expire, we will sell our remaining certified commercial capacity under contracts in new auctions to be conducted by MME or through the execution of new bilateral contracts.
The table below shows the evolution of our installed thermoelectric power plants capacity, our purchases in the free market and the associated certificated commercial capacity.
Installed Power Capacity and Utilization |
||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||
Installed capacity (MW) |
6,148 | 6,148 | 6,148 | |||||||||
Certified commercial capacity (MWavg) |
3,968 | 4,197 | 4,307 | |||||||||
Purchases in the free market (MWavg) |
345 | 345 | 247 | |||||||||
Commercial capacity available (Lastro) (MWavg) |
4,313 | 4,542 | 4,554 |
The table below shows the allocation of our sales volume between our customers and our revenues for each of the past three years:
Volumes of Electricity Sold (MWavg) |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Total sale commitments |
4,463 | 4,451 | 4,036 | |||||||||
Bilateral contracts |
835 | 854 | 1,183 | |||||||||
Self-production |
456 | 437 | 428 | |||||||||
Public auctions to distribution companies |
3,172 | 3,160 | 2,425 | |||||||||
Generation volume |
2,252 | 4,646 | 4,761 | |||||||||
Revenues (US$ million)(1) |
2,470 | 4,410 | 7,693 |
(1) | Includes electricity sales revenues from the Power segment to other operating segments, service and other revenues from electricity companies. |
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Fertilizers
Our fertilizer plants in Bahia, Sergipe and Paraná produce ammonia and urea for the Brazilian market. The units in Bahia and Paraná also produce automotive liquid reducing agents (ARLA-32) and the unit in Sergipe also produces ammonium sulfate. The combined production capacity of these plants is 1,852,000 t/y of urea, 1,406,000 t/y of ammonia, 300,000 t/y of ammonium sulfate and 800,000 t/y of ARLA-32. Most of our ammonia production is used to produce urea, and the excess production is mainly sold in the Brazilian market. In 2016, we reduced the utilization rate of these plants yielding to a 4.7% decrease in production volume compared to 2015 due to the maintenance turnaround of the fertilizer plant in Araucária located in Paraná.
The table below shows our ammonia and urea sales and revenues for each of the past three years:
Ammonia and Urea (t/y) |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Ammonia |
286,268 | 240,620 | 234,339 | |||||||||
Urea |
1,033,648 | 1,283,673 | 1,046,004 | |||||||||
Revenues (US$ million)(1) |
465 | 676 | 663 |
(1) | Includes nitrogenous fertilizers sales revenues from the Fertilizer segment to other operating segments, services and other revenues from fertilizers companies. |
Due to major changes in our business context, in 2015, we suspended investments in the following fertilizer projects:
| UFN III, with the capacity to produce 1.2 mmt/y of urea and 70 mt/y of ammonia from 2.2 mmm3/d of natural gas; and |
| UFN V, with the capacity to produce 519,000 t/y of ammonia from 1.3 mmm3/d of natural gas. |
The UFN V fertilizing project was cancelled in 2015. The UFN III fertilizing project remains suspended and under evaluation. We recognized impairment losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 of US$153 million with respect to the UFN III fertilizer facility and of US$140 million with respect to Araucária fertilizer facility, mainly attributable to (i) the use of a higher discount rate, (ii) the appreciation of the real against the U.S. Dollar for both projects and (iii) an increase in estimated production costs in Araucária.
We previously recognized impairment losses of US$501 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, with respect to the UFN III fertilizer due to (i) the use of a higher discount rate (reflecting an increase in Brazils risk premium) and (ii) the delay in expected future cash inflows resulting from postponement of the project and of US$190 million with respect to the UFN V fertilizer facility due to our decision to cancel the project.
For further information, see Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Renewable Energy
We have invested, alone and in partnership with other companies, in renewable power generation sources in Brazil, including wind. We currently participate in joint ventures in four wind power plants (Mangue Seco 1, 2, 3 and 4) and we hold indirect interests in two small hydroelectric power plants (Areia and Água Limpa) through our associate Termoeletrica Potiguar S,A TEP. Additionally, the wind power plant Macau and a solar power plant unit UFVAR integrate our assets. The power generation capacity we have (alone and through the equity interests we hold in renewable energy companies) is equivalent to 25.4 MW of hydroelectric capacity, 1.1 MW of solar capacity and 105.8 MW of wind capacity. We and our partners sell energy from these plants directly to the Brazilian federal government via its renewable energies incentive program and the 2009 reserve energy auctions.
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Gas and Power Abroad
We also participate in the gas and power sector in other South American countries. See below our international activities by region:
South America
We conduct gas and power activities in Argentina, Bolivia and in Uruguay.
| In Argentina, through PESA, we previously owned four electric power plants, Pichi Picún Leufú (hydrogeneration), Genelba (gas powered combined cycle), Genelba Plus (gas powered) and EcoEnergia (Cogeneration)), and we previously held an interest in two other electric power plants, Central Termelétrica José de San Martín S.A. and Central Termelétrica Manuel Belgrano S.A. and we also previously had a stake in a natural gas transportation company called TGS (Transportadora Gas del Sur). In July we sold our entire stake in PESA, owned through Petrobras Participaciones S.L. (PPSL), to Pampa Energía. Through Petrobras International Braspetro B.V.PIB BV (Netherlands), we have an interest of 34% in Compañia Mega S.A., a natural gas separation facility. |
| In Bolivia, we hold an 11% interest in GTB, owner of the Bolivian section of the Bolivia-to-Brazil (BTB) pipeline that transports natural gas we produce in Bolivia to the Brazilian market. |
| In Uruguay, we participate in the two companies that are responsible for the distribution of natural gas by pipelines in the country: (i) Distribuidora de Gás Montevideo S.A., a company 100% owned by Petrobras, that supplies natural gas to the Montevideo area; and (ii) Conecta S.A., a company in which we hold a 55% equity interest (the remaining 45% belong to ANCAP, Uruguays state oil company), that supplies natural gas to the rest of country. |
Biofuels Key Statistics |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
(US$ million) | ||||||||||||
Biofuel: |
||||||||||||
Sales revenues |
240 | 229 | 266 | |||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
(351 | ) | (317 | ) | (166 | ) | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
100 | 91 | 205 | |||||||||
Capital expenditures and investments |
96 | 43 | 112 |
Brazil is a global leader in the use and production of biofuels. In 2016, 88.0% of new light vehicles sold in Brazil had flexfuel capability, and service stations offered a choice of 100% ethanol and an ethanol/gasoline blend. Starting in March 2015, the Brazilian federal government increased the anhydrous ethanol content requirement for the gasoline sold in Brazil from 25% to 27%. Biodiesel also has a mandatory blend of 7% in all diesel fuel sold in Brazil since November 2014, increasing to 8% by March 2017.
We recognized impairment losses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 on equity-method investments, amounting to US$208 million, as a result of equity-accounted investments relating to Guarani S.A. (Guarani) and Nova Fronteira Bioenergia S.A. (Nova Fronteira), in which we used to own interests that were approved for sale in the last quarter of 2016. For further information on our partnerships and divestments completed in 2016, see Item 4. Information of the Company Overview of the Group. For further information on impairment, see Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
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Biodiesel
In 2016, we supplied 18% of Brazils biodiesel (assuming 100% of BSBIOS Indústria e Comércio de Biodiesel Sul Brasil S.A. (BSBIOS Sul Brasil) production) and we act as a market catalyst by securing and blending biodiesel supplies and furnishing these to smaller distributors as well as our own service stations. We directly own two biodiesel plants (Quixadá biodiesel plant had its own operation stopped in November 2016 due to weak economic results) and, through our 50% interest in BSBIOS Sul Brasil, we own two additional plants. The biodiesel production capacity of these four plants totals 13.7 mbbl/d.
Ethanol
We have historically been present in the ethanol and sugar production chain through our ownership interest in Guarani, Nova Fronteira and Bambui Bioenergia S.A. (Bambui Bioenergia), and have sold the exceeding electricity generated from sugarcane bagasse burn. However, we have strategically decided to withdraw from biofuel production, preserving technological competencies in areas with development potential, and have entered into a number of strategic transactions to that end, as explained below.
In 2016, through our associated companies Bambuí Bioenergia, Nova Fronteira and Guarani, with plants situated in the States of Minas Gerais, Goiás and São Paulo and in Mozambique, Africa, we have accounted, in the 2016/2017 harvest, for a total milling of 26.2 mmt of sugarcane, corresponding to an ethanol and sugar production of 19.9 mbbl/d and 1.6 mmt respectively compared to 20.3 mbbl/d and 1.5 mmt respectively in the 2015/2016 harvest. These associated entities sold 1.4 GWh of exceeding electricity generated during the 2016/2017 harvest.
In December 2016, as part of our divestment program, we entered into a share purchase agreement with Tereos Participation SAS, a company in the French group Tereos, to sell our entire 46.0% stake in Guarani for US$202 million and we recognized losses of US$67 million in connection with the sale. In addition, due to the decision to incorporate Nova Fronteira into Sao Martinho, our 49% interest in Nova Fronteira was converted into a 6.6% interest in Sao Martinho, which has higher liquidity in the market, with losses of US$30 million. For further information on our partnerships and divestments completed in 2016, see Item 4. Information of the Company Overview of the Group.
Corporate Key Statistics |
||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
(US$ million) | ||||||||||||
Corporate: |
||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
(13,723 | ) | (14,961 | ) | (8,047 | ) | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
1,819 | 1,949 | 2,811 | |||||||||
Capital expenditures and investments |
230 | 302 | 452 |
Our Corporate segment comprises activities that cannot be attributed to other segments, including corporate financial management, central administrative overhead and actuarial expenses related to our pension and medical benefits for retired employees and their dependents.
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As of December 31, 2016, we had 25 direct subsidiaries and two direct joint operations as listed below. Twenty-two are entities incorporated under the laws of Brazil and three are incorporated abroad. We also have indirect subsidiaries (including PGF). See Exhibit 8.1 for a complete list of our subsidiaries and joint operations, including their full names, jurisdictions of incorporation and our percentage of equity interest.
PETROBRAS | ||
BRAZIL |
ABROAD | |
Transportadora Associada de Gás S.A.TAG |
Petrobras Netherlands B.V.PNBV | |
Petrobras Distribuidora S.A.BR |
Petrobras International BraspetroPIB BV | |
Petrobras Logística de Exploração e Produção S.A.PB-LOG |
Braspetro Oil Services CompanyBrasoil | |
Nova Transportadora Associada de Gás S.A.NTS |
||
Petrobras Transporte S.A. Transpetro |
||
Petrobras Gás S.A.Gaspetro |
||
Petrobras Biocombustível S.A. |
||
Petrobras Logística de GásLogigás |
||
Liquigás Distribuidora S.A. |
||
Termomacaé Ltda. |
||
Breitener Energética S.A. |
||
Termobahia S.A. |
||
Baixada Santista Energia S.A. |
||
Araucária Nitrogenados S.A. |
||
Fundo de Investimento Imobiliário RB LogísticaFII |
||
Petrobras Comercializadora de Energía Ltda. PBEN |
||
Petrobras Negócios Eletrônicos S.A.E-Petro |
||
Termomacaé Comercializadora de Energia Ltda |
||
Downstream Participações Ltda. |
||
5283 Participações Ltda. |
||
Companhia Integrada Têxtil de Pernambuco S.A.CITEPE |
||
Companhia Petroqímica de Pernambuco S.A. PetroquímicaSuape |
||
Fábrica Carioca de Catalizadores S.A.FCC(*) |
||
Ibiritermo S.A.(*) |
(*) | Joint operations. |
Our most important tangible assets are wells, platforms, refining facilities, pipelines, vessels, other transportation assets, power plants as well as fertilizers and biodiesels plants. Most of these are located in Brazil. We own and lease our facilities and some owned facilities are subject to liens, although the value of encumbered assets is not material.
We have the right to exploit crude oil and gas reserves in Brazil under concession agreements, but the reserves themselves are the property of the government under Brazilian law. Item 4. Information on the Company includes a description of our reserves and sources of crude oil and natural gas, key tangible assets, and material plans to expand and improve our facilities.
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As of December 31, 2016, our property, plant and equipment included US$22,954 million (US$19,158 million as of December 31, 2015) related to the Assignment Agreement (see Item 10. Additional InformationMaterial ContractsAssignment Agreement.). On December 29, 2014, we submitted the last declaration of commerciality of crude oil and natural gas accumulations, located in the Entorno de Iara block, to the ANP, which prompted the revision process of the Assignment Agreement. Currently, all areas subject to the Assignment Agreement (Franco, Florim, Nordeste de Tupi, Entorno de Iara, Sul de Guará and Sul de Tupi blocks) are being reviewed. This process includes the preparation of reports by independent experts engaged by us and by the ANP and related discussions with the Brazilian federal government. The revision process, for all the areas subject to the Assignment Agreement, is currently ongoing and there is no formal or official date for its conclusion. If the review of the Assignment Agreement determines that the value of acquired rights is higher than the amount initially paid, we may be required to pay the difference to the Brazilian federal government, or we may proportionally reduce the total volume of barrels acquired under the Assignment Agreement. If the review determines that the value of the acquired rights is lower than initially paid by us, the Brazilian federal government will reimburse us for the difference by delivering cash or bonds or equivalent means of payment, subject to budgetary regulations.
Currently, the settlement conditions and the amount to be agreed for revision of the Assignment Agreement are not defined. The beginning of the negotiations with the Brazilian federal government still depends on the appraisals by independent experts and the issuance of such experts reports. On October 21, 2016 our board of directors approved the creation of the minority shareholders committee (Minority Committee), responsible for monitoring the Assignment Agreement review process and providing support to our board of directors by issuing opinions on related matters. For further information on our Minority Committee, see Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees Other Committees.
We also recognized impairment charges of US$6,193 in 2016 (US$12,299 million in 2015) for certain property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and assets classified as held for sale. Further information about impairment of our assets is provided in Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Regulation of the Oil and Gas Industry in Brazil
Concession Regime for Oil and Gas
Under Brazilian law, the Brazilian federal government owns all crude oil and natural gas subsoil accumulations in Brazil. The Brazilian federal government holds a monopoly over the exploration, production, refining and transportation of crude oil and oil products in Brazil and its continental shelf, with the exception that companies that were engaged in refining and distribution in 1953 were permitted to continue those activities. Between 1953 and 1997, we were the Brazilian federal governments exclusive agent for exploiting its monopoly, including the importation and exportation of crude oil and oil products.
As part of a comprehensive reform of the oil and gas regulatory system, the Brazilian Congress amended the Brazilian Constitution in 1995 to authorize the Brazilian federal government to contract with any state or privately-owned company to carry out upstream, oil refining, cross-border commercialization and transportation activities in Brazil of oil, natural gas and their respective products. On August 6, 1997, Brazil enacted Law No. 9,478, which established a concession-based regulatory framework, ended our exclusive right to carry out oil and gas activities, and allowed competition in all aspects of the oil and gas industry in Brazil. Since that time, we have been operating in an increasingly deregulated and competitive environment. Law No. 9,478/1997 also created an independent regulatory agency, the ANP, to regulate the oil, natural gas and renewable fuel industry in Brazil, and to create a competitive environment in the oil and gas sector. Effective January 2, 2002, Brazil deregulated prices for crude oil, oil products and natural gas.
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Law No. 9,478/1997 established a concession-based regulatory framework and granted us the exclusive right to exploit crude oil reserves in each of our producing fields under the existing concession contracts for an initial term of 27 years from the date when they were declared commercially profitable. These are known as the Round Zero concession contracts. This initial 27-year period for production can be extended at the request of the concessionaire and subject to approval from the ANP. Law No. 9,478/1997 also established a procedural framework for us to claim exclusive exploratory rights for a period of up to three years, later extended to five years, to areas where we could demonstrate that we had made commercial discoveries or exploration investments prior to the enactment of the Law No. 9,478/1997. In order to perfect our claim to explore and develop these areas, we had to demonstrate that we had the financial capacity to carry out these activities, either alone or through other cooperative arrangements.
Starting in 1999, all areas not already subject to concessions became available for public bidding conducted by the ANP. All the concessions that we have obtained since then were obtained through participation in public bidding rounds. In 2016, the ANP granted us an extension of the production phase of the concession agreement related to Marlim Field and Voador Field until August 2052 and an extension related to Ubarana Field until August 2034.
Taxation under Concession Regime for Oil and Gas
According to the Law No. 9,478/1997 and under our concession agreements for exploration and production activities with ANP, we are required to pay the government the following:
| Signing bonuses paid upon the execution of the concession agreement, which are based on the amount of the winning bid, subject to the minimum signing bonuses published in the relevant bidding guidelines (edital de licitação); |
| Annual retention bonuses for the occupation or retention of areas available for exploration and production, at a rate established by the ANP in the relevant bidding guidelines based on the size, location and geological characteristics of the concession block; |
| Special participation charges at a rate ranging from 0 to 40% of the net income derived from the production of fields that reach high production volumes or profitability, according to the criteria established in the applicable legislation. Net revenues are gross revenues less royalties paid, investments in exploration, operational costs and depreciation adjustments and applicable taxes. The Special Participation Tax uses as a reference international oil prices converted to reais at the current exchange rate. In 2016, we paid this tax on 18 of our fields, namely Albacora, Albacora Leste, Baleia Azul, Baleia Franca, Barracuda, Baúna, Canto do Amaro, Jubarte, Leste do Urucu, Lula, Manati, Marlim, Marlim Leste, Marlim Sul, Mexilhão, Rio Urucu, Roncador and Sapinhoá; and |
| Royalties, to be established in the concession contracts at a rate ranging between 5% and 10% of gross revenues from production, based on reference prices for crude oil or natural gas established by Decree No. 2,705 and ANP regulatory acts. In establishing royalty rates in the concession contracts, the ANP also takes into account the geological risks and expected productivity levels for each concession. Most of our crude oil production is currently taxed at the maximum royalty rate. |
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Law No. 9,478/1997 also requires concessionaires of onshore fields to pay to the owner of the land a participation fee that varies between 0.5% and 1.0% of the sales revenues derived from the production of the field.
Production-Sharing Contract Regime for Unlicensed Pre-Salt and Potentially Strategic Areas
Discoveries of large oil and natural gas reserves in the pre-salt areas of the Campos and Santos Basins prompted a change in the legislation regarding oil and gas exploration and production activities.
In 2010, three new laws were enacted to regulate exploration and production activities in pre-salt and other potentially strategic areas not subject to existing concessions: Law No. 12,351, Law No. 12,304, and Law No. 12,276. The enacted legislation does not impact the existing pre-salt concession contracts, which cover approximately 28% of the pre-salt areas.
Law No. 12,351/2010 regulates production-sharing contracts for oil and gas exploration and production in pre-salt areas not under concession and in potentially strategic areas to be defined by the CNPE. Under the production-sharing regime, we used to be the exclusive operator of all blocks. However, Law No. 13,365/2016 recently modified Law 12,3251/2010 in order to grant us the option to be the operator of the blocks offered under public bids under the production sharing regime. It is no longer mandatory for us to be the exclusive operator of all areas. CNPE will only offer us preference to operate the blocks under production-sharing regime. As part of this regulatory change, we must announce whether we will exercise our preference right for each of the areas offered, up to thirty (30) days after the notice by the CNPE and present our justifications. After our announcement, CNPE will propose to the Office of the Presidency which areas should be operated by us. The exploration and production rights for these areas will be offered under public bids. Regardless of whether we exercise our right of preference, we will also be able to participate, at our discretion, in the bidding process to increase our interest in these areas. Nonetheless, the winning bidder will be the company that offers to the Brazilian federal government the highest percentage of profit oil, which is the production of a certain field after deduction of royalties and cost oil, which is the cost associated with oil production.
Law No. 12,734 became partially effective on November 30, 2012, and amended Law 12,351, establishing a royalty rate of 15% applicable to the gross production of oil and natural gas under future production sharing contracts.
Law No. 12,304/2010, authorized the incorporation of a new state-run non-operating company that will represent the interests of the Brazilian federal government in the production-sharing contracts and will manage the commercialization contracts related to the Brazilian federal governments share of the profit oil. This new state-owned company was incorporated on August 1, 2013, named Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A.PPSA, and will participate in operational committees, with a casting vote and veto powers, as defined in the contract, and will manage and control costs arising from production-sharing contracts. Where production-sharing contracts are concerned, PPSA will exercise its specific legal activities alongside the ANP, the independent regulatory agency that regulates and oversees oil and gas activities under all exploration and production regimes, and the CNPE, the entity that sets the guidelines to be applied to the oil and gas sector, including with respect to the new regulatory model.
Assignment Agreement (Cessão Onerosa) and Global Offering
Pursuant to Law No. 12,276/2010, we entered into an agreement with the Brazilian federal government on September 3, 2010 (Assignment Agreement), under which the government assigned to us the right to conduct activities for the exploration and production of oil, natural gas and other fluid hydrocarbons in specified pre-salt areas, subject to a maximum production of five bnboe. The initial contract price for our rights under the Assignment Agreement was R$74,807,616,407, which was equivalent to US$42,533,327,500 as of September 1, 2010. See Item 10. Additional InformationMaterial ContractsAssignment Agreement.
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Natural Gas Law of 2009
In March 2009, the Brazilian Congress enacted Law No. 11,909, or Gas Law, regulating activities in the gas industry, including transport, processing, storage, liquefaction, regasification and commercialization. The Gas Law created a concession regime for the construction and operation of new pipelines to transport natural gas, while maintaining an authorization regime for pipelines subject to international agreements. According to the Gas Law, after a certain exclusivity period, operators (transportadores) will be required to grant access to transport pipelines and maritime terminals, except LNG terminals, to third parties in order to maximize utilization of capacity.
The Gas Law authorized the ANP to regulate prices for the use of gas transport pipelines subject to the new concession regime, based on a procedure defined in the Gas Law as a chamada pública, and to approve prices submitted by carriers (carregadores), according to previously established criteria, for the use of new gas transport pipelines subject to the authorization regime.
Authorizations previously issued by the ANP for natural gas transport will remain valid for 30 years from the date of publication of the Gas Law, and initial carriers (carregadores iniciais) were granted exclusivity in these pipelines for 10 years. All pipelines that our subsidiaries currently own and operate in Brazil are subject to an authorization regime. The ANP will issue regulations governing third-party access and carrier compensation if no agreement is reached between the parties.
The Gas Law also authorized certain consumers, who can purchase natural gas on the open market or obtain their own supplies of natural gas, to construct facilities and pipelines for their own use in the event local gas distributors controlled by the states, which have monopoly over local gas distribution, do not meet their distribution needs. These consumers are required to delegate the operation and maintenance of the facilities and pipelines to local gas distributors, but they are not required to sign gas supply agreements with the local gas distributors.
In December 2010, Decree No. 7,382 was enacted in order to regulate Chapter I to VI and VIII of the Gas Law as it relates to activities in the gas industry, including transportation and commercialization. Since the publication of this decree, a number of administrative regulations were enacted by the ANP and the MME in order to regulate various issues in the Gas Law and Decree No. 7,382 that needed to be further clarified. Among those is ANP Resolution No. 51/2013, which prevents a carrier from holding any equity interest in concessionaires of gas transport pipelines. Resolution No. 51/2013 applies only to the concessions granted after its publication, not affecting, therefore, the transportation of our natural gas production through pipelines operated by its subsidiaries and subject to the previous authorization regime.
Price Regulation
Until Law No. 9,478 in 1997, the Brazilian federal government had the power to regulate all aspects of the pricing of crude oil, oil products, ethanol, natural gas, electric power and other energy sources. In 2002, the government eliminated price controls for crude oil and oil products, although it retained regulation over certain natural gas sales contracts and electricity. Concurrently, the Brazilian federal government has periodically created and adjusted taxes applicable to crude oil, oil and natural gas products, which have been used as a tool to balance price stability to end consumers and also to increase its tax revenues.
Environmental Regulations
All phases of the crude oil and natural gas business present environmental risks and hazards. Our facilities in Brazil are subject to a wide range of federal, state and local laws, regulations and permit requirements relating to the protection of human health and the environment, and they fall under the regulatory authority of the Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (National Council for the Environment, or CONAMA).
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Our offshore activities are subject to the administrative authority of IBAMA, which issues operating and drilling licenses. We are required to submit reports, including safety and pollution monitoring reports to IBAMA in order to maintain our licenses.
Most of the onshore environmental, health and safety conditions are controlled either at the federal or the state level depending on the localization of our facilities, the type of activity under development and other criteria to be set forth in regulation that is still pending. However, it is also possible for these conditions to be controlled on a local basis whenever the activities generate a local impact or are established in a county conservation unit. Under Brazilian law, there is strict and joint liability for environmental damage, mechanisms for enforcement of environmental standards and licensing requirements for polluting activities.
Individuals or entities whose conduct or activities cause harm to the environment are subject to criminal and administrative sanctions. Government environmental protection agencies may also impose administrative sanctions for noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations, including:
| Fines; |
| Partial or total suspension of activities; |
| Requirements to fund reclamation and environmental projects; |
| Forfeiture or restriction of tax incentives or benefits; |
| Closing of establishments or operations; and |
| Forfeiture or suspension of participation in credit lines with official credit establishments. |
We are subject to a number of administrative and legal proceedings relating to environmental matters. For more information about these proceedings, see Item 8. Financial InformationLegal Proceedings. and Note 30 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
In 2016, we invested US$0.9billion in environmental projects, compared to US$1.1 billion in 2015 and US$1.4 billion in 2014. These investments continued to be primarily directed at reducing emissions and wastes from industrial processes, managing water use and effluents, remedying impacted areas, implementing new environmental technologies, upgrading our pipelines and improving our ability to respond to emergencies.
Health, Safety and Environmental Initiatives
The protection of human health and the environment is one of our primary concerns, and is essential to our success as an integrated energy company.
We have a Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Committee (Comitê de Segurança, Meio Ambiente e Saúde) composed of three members of our board of directors who are responsible for assisting our board in the following matters:
| Definition of strategic goals in relation to HSE matters; |
| Establishment of global policies related to the strategic management of HSE matters within our group of companies; and |
| Assessment of the conformity of our strategic plan to its global HSE policies, among others. |
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Our efforts to address health, safety and environmental concerns and ensure compliance with environmental regulations (which in 2016 totaled an investment of R$5.88 billion, or US$1.68 billion) involve the management of environmental costs related to production and operations, pollution control equipment and systems, projects to rehabilitate degraded areas, safety procedures and initiatives for emergency prevention and control, health and safety programs as well as:
| An HSE management system that seeks to minimize the impacts of operations and products on health, safety and the environment, reduce the use of natural resources and pollution and prevent accidents; |
| ISO 14001 (environment) and OHSAS 18001 (health and safety) certification of our operating units. All the oil refined in Brazil was processed by certified units. The Frota Nacional de Petroleiros (National Fleet of Vessels) has been fully certified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Management Code for Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (ISM Code) since December 1997; |
| Regular and active engagement with the MME and IBAMA, in order to discuss environmental issues related to new oil and gas production and other transportation and logistical aspects of our operations; |
| A strategic goal to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions, along with a set of performance indicators with targets to monitor progress with respect to this goal; and |
| We evaluate each of our operational projects to identify risks and to ensure compliance with all of our HSE requirements and the adoption of the best HSE practices throughout a projects life cycle. In addition, we conduct more extensive environmental studies for new projects when required by applicable environmental legislation. |
In 2016, our emissions decreased by 15% compared to 2015, mainly due to the reduction in thermal power generation, divestiture decisions and general lower level of operational activities. We are committed to reducing the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from our processes and products through several initiatives, including reduction of gas flaring, energy efficiency measures and operational improvements.
Eliminating fatal accidents and achieving performance levels comparable to the best international oil and gas operators when it comes to the prevention of injuries to our employees and third parties are the two most important goals set by our safety management. Although we develop prevention programs in all of our operating units, we recorded 3 fatalities involving our own and contractors employees in 2016 (compared to 16 in 2015). We investigate all accidents reported in order to identify their causes and then take preventive and corrective actions, which are regularly monitored once they are adopted. In cases of serious accidents, we send out company-wide alerts to enable other operating units to assess the probability of similar events occurring in their own operations.
Environmental Remediation Plans and Procedures
As part of our environmental plans, procedures and efforts, we maintain detailed response and remediation contingency plans to be implemented in the event of an oil spill or leak from our offshore operations. In order to respond to these events, Petrobras has 32 dedicated oil spill recovery vessels fully equipped for oil spill control and firefighting, 113 support boats and other vehicles, 270 additional support and recovery boats available to fight offshore oil spills and leaks, around 92 km of containment booms and 118 km of absorbent booms and around 96,000 liters of oil dispersants, among others. These resources are distributed in 12 environmental protection centers in strategic areas in which we operate throughout Brazil and in emergency response centers (distributed over 21 cities) in order to ensure rapid and coordinated response to onshore or offshore oil spills.
We have more than 500 trained workers available to respond to oil spills 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we can mobilize additional trained workers for shoreline cleanups on short notice from a large group of trained environmental agents in the country. While these workers are located in Brazil, they are also available to respond to an offshore oil spill outside of Brazil.
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Since 2012, Petrobras has been a participating member of the Oil Spill Response LimitedOSRL, an international organization that brings together over 160 corporations, including oil major, national/independent oil companies, energy related companies as well as other companies operating elsewhere in the oil supply chain. OSRL participates in the Global Response Network, an organization composed of several other companies dedicated to fighting oil spills. As a member of the OSRL, Petrobras has access to all resources available through that network, and we also subscribe to their Subsea Well Intervention Services, which provides swift international deployment of response-ready capping and containment equipment. The capping equipment is stored and maintained at bases worldwide, including Brazil. An OSRL Brazilian base opened in March 2014 and is now operational.
In 2016, we conducted 13 emergency drills of regional scope with the Brazilian navy, the civil defense, firefighters, the military police, environmental organizations and local governmental and community entities.
We set up a Zero Spill Plan, aiming at optimizing management and reducing the risk of oil spills in our operations. This plan encompasses investments to improve the management of processes and to ensure the integrity of our equipment and installations. Additionally, Petrobras has a model of communication, processing and recording of oil spills that permits the daily monitoring of these incidents, their impacts and mitigation measures.
The oil spill level in our upstream operations in 2016 was kept below 0.5 m3 per mmbbl produced. Data for 2012 compiled by the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers indicates that the industry average was 0.76 m3 of oil spilled per mmbbl produced. We continue to evaluate and develop initiatives to address HSE concerns and to reduce our exposure to HSE risks. In 2016, we had oil spills totaling 51.9m3, compared to 71.6 m3 in 2015 and 69.5 m3 in 2014.
Insurance
Our insurance programs focus principally on the evaluation of risks and the replacement value of assets, which is customary for our industry. Under our risk management policy, risks associated with our principal assets, such as refineries, tankers and offshore production units and drilling rigs, are insured for their replacement value with third-party Brazilian insurers. Although some policies are issued in Brazil, most of our policies are reinsured abroad with reinsurers rated A- or higher by S&Ps rating agency or B++ or higher by A.M. Best.
Less valuable assets, including but not limited to small auxiliary boats, certain storage facilities, and some administrative installations, are self-insured. We do not maintain coverage for business interruption, except for a minority of our international operations and a few specific assets in Brazil. We generally do not maintain coverage for our wells for all of our Brazilian operations, except when required by a joint operating agreement. Although we do not insure most of our pipelines, we have insurance against damage or loss to third parties resulting from specific incidents, such as sudden and accidental seepage and oil pollution. We also maintain coverage for risks associated with cargo, hull and machinery. All projects and installations under construction that have an estimated maximum loss above US$80 million are covered by a construction insurance policy.
We have operations in 9 countries outside Brazil and maintain varying levels of third-party liability insurance for our domestic and international operations as a result of a variety of factors, including our country risk assessments, whether we have onshore and offshore operations or legal requirements imposed by the particular country in which we operate. We maintain insurance coverage for operational third-party liability with respect to our onshore and offshore activities, including losses to third parties resulting from environmental risks such as oil spills, in Brazil up to an aggregate policy limit of US$250 million. We maintain additional protection and indemnity (P&I) marine insurance against third-party liability related to our domestic offshore operations up to an aggregate policy limit between US$50 million up to US$500 million for a period of 12 months. In the event of an explosion or similar event at one of our mobile offshore units in Brazil, these policies can provide combined third-party liability coverage of up to US$750 million.
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Our domestic and international operational third-party liability policies cover claims made against us by or on behalf of individuals who are not our employees in the event of property damage, personal injury or death, subject to the policy limits set forth above. As a general rule, our service providers are required to indemnify us for a claim we pay directly to a third party as a result of a court decision holding us liable for the actions of that service provider. Our operational third-party liability policies also cover environmental damage from oil spills (including liability arising from an explosion or similar sudden and accidental event at one of our offshore units) as well as litigation and clean-up and remediation costs, but do not cover governmental fines or punitive damages.
We maintain separate control-of-well insurance policies at our international operations to cover liability arising from the uncontrolled eruption of oil, gas, water or drilling fluid, as well as to cover claims for environmental damage from well blow-outs and similar events as well as related clean-up costs, with aggregate policy limits up to US$509 million for a period of 12 months depending on the country. In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, for example, we maintain third-party liability coverage up to an aggregate policy limit of US$250 million, and control-of-well liability insurance up to US$509 million. Depending on the particular circumstances, either of these policies could apply in the event of an explosion or similar event at one of our offshore units in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
We generally do not maintain control-of-well insurance for our domestic operations onshore and offshore Brazil, except when required by a joint operating agreement. As a result, we would bear the costs of clean-up, decontamination and any proceedings arising out of a control-of-well incident. Any sudden and accidental loss of hydrocarbon containment from our domestic operations onshore and offshore that is not attributable to a control-of-well issue would be covered by either our Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance, with coverage of up to US$500 million for our mobile offshore units, or our onshore-offshore liability policy, with coverage of up to US$250 million.
The premium for renewing our domestic property risk insurance policy for an 18-month period beginning November 2016 was US$43.41 million. This represented a nominal decrease of 45% over the prior 18-month period. The insured value of our assets, in the same period, decreased by 4.9% to US$173.6 billion. Beginning November 2016, we changed our risk retention for operational risks from US$25 million up to US$180 million while for engineering risks it may reach US$80 million in certain circumstances.
Additional Reserves and Production Information
During 2016, our oil and gas production in Brazil averaged 2,387.4 mboe/d, of which 90% was oil and 10% was natural gas. The Campos Basin is one of Brazils main and most prolific oil and gas offshore basins, with over 60 hydrocarbon fields discovered, eight large oil fields and a total area of approximately 115,000 km2 (28.4 million acres). In 2016, the Campos Basin produced an average 1,358.5 mbbl/d of oil and 525.4 mmcf/d (13.9 mmm3/d) of natural gas, comprising 61% of our total production from Brazil. We also carry out limited oil shale mining operations in São Mateus do Sul, in the Paraná Basin of Brazil, and convert the kerogen (solid organic matter) from these deposits into synthetic oil and gas. This operation is conducted in an integrated facility and its final products are fuel gas, LPG, shale naphtha and shale fuel oil. Our business unit does not utilize the fracking method or the hydraulic fracturing method for oil production, since they are not appropriate in the context of our operations. Also, we do not inject any water or chemicals in the soil in connection with our open pit oil shale mining operations. Our process consists of crushing, screening and subsequently heating all the shale at high temperatures (pyrolysis) and we have in place a proper segregation process for the by-products derived from such process.
On December 31, 2016, our estimated proved reserves in Brazil totaled 9.5 bnbbl of oil equivalent, including 8.1 bnbbl of crude oil, condensate and synthetic oil and 222.7 bnm3 (8.4 tcf) of natural gas and synthetic gas. As of December 31, 2016, our domestic proved developed crude oil, condensate and synthetic oil reserves represented 52.8% of our total domestic proved crude oil, condensate and synthetic oil reserves, and our domestic proved developed natural gas and synthetic gas reserves represented 60.0% of our total domestic proved natural gas and synthetic gas reserves.
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We calculate reserves based on forecasts of field production, which depend on a number of technical parameters, such as seismic interpretation, geological maps, well tests, reservoir engineering studies and economic data. All reserve estimates involve some degree of uncertainty. The uncertainty depends primarily on the amount of reliable geological and engineering data available at the time of the estimate and the interpretation of that data. Our estimates are thus made using the most reliable data and technology at the time of the estimate, in accordance with the best practices in the oil and gas industry and regulations promulgated by the SEC.
Internal Controls over Proved Reserves
The reserve estimation process begins with an initial evaluation of our assets by geophysicists, geologists and engineers. Corporate Reserves Coordinators (Coordenadores de Reservas Corporativos, or CRCs) safeguard the integrity and objectivity of our reserve estimates by supervising and providing technical support to Regional Reserves Coordinators (Coordenadores de Reservas Regionais, or CRRs) who are responsible for preparing the reserve estimates. Our CRRs and CRCs have degrees in geology, engineering and accounting and are trained internally and abroad in international reserve estimates seminars. CRCs are responsible for compliance with SEC rules and regulations, consolidating and auditing the reserve estimation process. The technical person primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of our reserves has 28 years of experience in the field and has been with Petrobras for over 33 years. Our reserve estimates are approved by our board of executive officers, which then informs our board of directors of its approval.
D&M used our reserve estimates to conduct a reserve audit of 97% of the net proved crude oil, condensate and natural gas reserves as of December 31, 2016 from certain properties we own in Brazil. In addition, D&M used our reserve estimates to conduct a reserves audit of 100% of the net proved crude oil, condensate and natural gas reserves as of December 31, 2016 in properties we operate in the United States. The reserve estimates were prepared in accordance with the reserves definitions of Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-X of the SEC. For further information about our proved reserves, see Supplementary Information on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production beginning on page F-109. For disclosure describing the qualification of D&Ms technical person primarily responsible for overseeing our reserves audit and reserves evaluation, see Exhibit 99.1.
Changes in Proved Reserves
In 2016, we incorporated 103 million boe of proved reserves from extensions and discoveries in Brazil (Santos Basin), and we increased 131 mmboe of our proved reserves due to revisions of previous estimates, because new production development well drilling and better reservoir response in onshore and offshore post-salt fields, in Brazil and in the USA, and in the pre-salt, as result of positive answers from the reservoirs, recovery mechanisms (water injection) and operating efficiency of production systems in operation, as well as the growing drilling activities and tie-back activities, in the Santos and in the Campos Basin. We reduced 169 mmboe of our proved reserves due to sales of minerals in situ and increased 16 mmboe in our proved reserves due to purchases of minerals in situ, resulting in a net effect of a decrease of 153 mmboe in our proved reserves. The net result of these additions and dispositions, excluding production, was an increase of 81 mmboe to our proved reserves in 2016. Considering a production of 925 mmboe in 2016, our net decrease of proved reserves was 844 mmboe. This volume production does not take into account the production of EWTs in exploratory blocks in Brazil, and production in Bolivia, since the Bolivian Constitution prohibits the disclosure and registration of its reserves.
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At year-end 2016 compared to year-end 2015, our proved undeveloped reserves company-wide decreased by a net total of 700.5 mmboe. Thus, we had a total of 4,441.1 mmboe of proved undeveloped reserves company-wide at December 31, 2016, compared to 5,141.6 mmboe of proved undeveloped reserves company-wide at December 31, 2015.
In Brazil, the net decrease in our proved undeveloped reserves in 2016 compared to 2015 is mostly derived from the conversion of some of our proved undeveloped reserves to proved developed reserves, mainly attributable to the start up of new production units in the Santos Basin, and to the drilling of wells in existing production fields, in the Santos and in the Campos Basins, amounting to 687 mmboe. In addition, our domestic proved undeveloped reserves decreased by 32 mmboe due to revisions of previous estimates. This decrease was partially offset by the increase due to extensions and discoveries, amounting to 103 mmboe, in the pre-salt areas of the Santos Basin.
All reserve volumes described above are net to the extent that they only include our proportional participation in reserve volumes and exclude reserves attributed to our partners.
In 2016, we invested a total of US$13.1 billion in development projects, of which 95 % (US$12.4 billion) was invested in Brazil, and converted a total of 747 mmboe of proved undeveloped reserves to proved developed reserves, approximately 92% (687 mmboe) of which were Brazilian reserves.
Most of our investments relate to long-term development projects, which are developed in phases due to the large volumes, and extensions involved, the deep and ultra-deepwater infrastructure and the production resources complexity. In these cases, the full development of the reserves related to these investments can exceed five years.
We had a total of 4,441.1 mmboe of proved undeveloped reserves company-wide at year-end 2016, approximately 7.4% (329.1mmboe) of which have remained undeveloped for five years or more as a result of several factors affecting development and production, including the inherent complexity of ultra-deepwater development projects, particularly in Brazil.
The majority of the 329.1 mmboe of our proved undeveloped reserves that have remained undeveloped for five years or more consist of reserves in the Santos Basin and in the Campos Basin, in which we are making investments to develop necessary infrastructure.
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The following tables set forth our production of crude oil, natural gas, synthetic oil and synthetic gas by geographic area in 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Hydrocarbon Production by Geographic Area | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oil (mbbl/d) (5) |
Synth. Oil (mbbl/d) (4) |
Nat. Gas (mmcf/d) (1) |
Synth. Gas (mmcf/d) (1)(4) |
Total (mboe/d) |
Oil (mbbl/d) (5) |
Synth. Oil (mbbl/d) (4) |
Nat. Gas (mmcf/d) (1) |
Synth. Gas (mmcf/d) (1)(4) |
Total (mboe/d) |
Oil (mbbl/d) (5) |
Synth. Oil (mbbl/d) (4) |
Nat. Gas (mmcf/d) (1) |
Synth. Gas (mmcf/d) (1)(4) |
Total (mboe/d) |
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Brazil* |
2,141.7 | 2.5 | 1,458.5 | 0.6 | 2,387.4 | 2,125.5 | 2.8 | 1,542.7 | 0.9 | 2,385.5 | 2,031.5 | 2.9 | 1,499.4 | 1.0 | 2,284.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lula field(2) |
342.8 | | 256.0 | | 385.5 | 212.6 | | 142.2 | | 236.29 | 108.38 | |